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TOPOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL 

SKETCHES 



OF THE 



«i^®wir ®w iLAir(P^©^iiiEa 



IN THE 



a^ommontoralti) of J^asjiatiittisttts: 



FURNISHED FOR THE 



WORCESTER MAGAZINE 



J^init}Vital ^onvnuh 



BY JOSSPB WXIiZiARD. 



' WORCESTER: 

PRINTED EOR THE PKOFRIETORS, BY CHARLES GRIEFIK. 

1826. 



14- 



\N 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER, 



In giving a sketch of the history of Lancaster, I labor under se- 
rious disadvantages. Those valuable sources of information, the 
records, are quite imperfect : the records of the Church till the 
time of Rev. Mr. Prentice in 1708, are lost; while those of the 
town extend no further back, than 1725 ; the first volume having 
unaccountably disappeared, more than forty years since. After 
much exertion, I have been able, only in part, to supply these de- 
ficiencies, from various and distant quarters ; and from the books of 
the proprietors, in which are preserved some valuable materials: 
but even here there is a lamentable hiatus from 1671, to 1717, in- 
cluding King Williams' war, of eight, and Queen Ann's war, of elev- 
en years. 

After giving the topography, present state &,c. of "the town, I 
shall touch upon its civil and ecclesiastical history. 

The town of Lancaster is situated in the north part of the Coun- 
ty of Worcester, about 33 miles west from Boston,* and 15 miles 
nearly north from Worcester. 

BouNDARiF.s. — The general boundaries of the town are as fol- 
lows, viz. north by Shirley and Lunenburgh, west by Leominster 
and Sterling, south by Boylston and Berlin, and east by Berlin, Bol- 
ton and Harvard. The general direction of the town, in length, is 
northeast and southwest. The average length, is nine and eleven 
sixteenth miles ; the greatest lengtU nine and fifteen sixteenths, de- 

* The distance was till the last year, 35 miles. The great alterations in 
the road, especially through Stow, and the new road from Watertowa to Cam- 
bridge, make a difference of two mileis. 



** IIISTORy OF LANCASTER. 

duced from an accurate map.* It was originally laid out for tea 
miles, and this slight variation of one sixteenth of a mile, was prob- 
ably owing to an error, in the original survey, which will he men- 
tioned in the sequel ; a less error it is supposed than was usual in 
such ancient measurements. The breadth, is very irregular ; it va- 
ries from 4f to 2J miles. 

Roads, Mails, &c. — The public roads extend over 600 acres of 
land. The principal road, is the one leading from Boston, through 
Leominster, to Greenfield and Brattleborough : and another branch of 
it through Sterling, to Barre, Greenfield, &c. The mail arrives and 
departs daily ,excepting on Sunday : thirty two mails are opened and 
closed, and the various stage coaches pass and repass the same num- 
ber of times, in the course of each week. There is a short turn- 
pike road which begins in Bolton, and terminates in Lancaster, a 
mile north of the church. 

Soil, Productions, &c. — The town contains twenty thousand two 
hundred and eight acres of land. Of this three thousand acres, no 
inconsiderable part of the whole, are intervale, and about seven- 
teen hundred, by estimate, are covered with water. Much of the 
soil is deep and rich. The light lands, produce large quantities of 
rye,, barley, oats, &c. while the better part of the upland, and all 
the intervales, are well a lapted to Indian corn, the potatoe, grass, 
and indeed to every kind of cultivation, with but comparativeiy lit- 
tle labor. The intervale, in particular, yields largely, and rewards 
the husbandman, many fold, for the little care he is obliged to take 
of it. 

Its fertility, is owing to the annual overflowings of the river, 
when the ice and snow melt in the spring. The waters become 
turbid by the rapidity of the current, and the earth, that is washed 
into its bosom, is de[tosited on the land, and serves all the good 
purposes of every kind of manure. These freshes, undoubtedly, 
sometimes occasion much immediate injury: for by reason of the 
elevation of the country in which the river has its sources, and 
through which it passes, the stream rises rapidly, and is borne along 
to the valley of the Nashaway,t by an accelerated and furious cur- 

*iVlade by order of tlie General Court in 1794. I have followed the ad- 
vice of a value'l friend, and have omitted the boundaries, by degrees, rods, 
stakes, stones, Sic. 

t It will be observed that 1 spell the word Nashaway ; it is a better word 
than Nashua, the modern altsration, or refinement, as some may think it. 
The former, is the ancitnt reading:, the true orthography ; ior which, I have 
the authority of VViothrop, Colony Records, Middlesex Records, proprietor's 
books, &c. from 1643, to a late period. The inaovatioa should be rejected at 
once, as a corruption, 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 5 

rent, filled with large cakes of ice, destroying mill dams, and sweep- 
ing away bridges, in its destructive course.* In the spring of 1818, 
it was very busy in the work of ruin : most of the bridges were 
dashed in pieces by the ice, and none, I believe, escaped uninjured. 
Since that time, only two bridges have suffered; one in the spring 
of 1823, called the Centre Bridge, just below the confluence of the 
two branches of the river, and the other, during the last spring, 
(1826,) on the south branch, between the first mentioned bridge, 
and the late Dr. Ailierton's residence. But, notwithstanding the 
numerous losses that have been sustained of old and of late years, 
they are far outweighed by the annual benefits, which the Nasha- 
way, bestows upon the land.t The principal trees on the uplands, 
are the ever-green, and oak of the different kinds, the chesnut, ma- 
ple, &c. on the intervales, the elm in all its beautiful variety and 
the walnut. t More attention is now paid to the cultivation of fruit 
trees, than formerly ; but it is chiefly confined to the apple, and ia 
fact, to the pear. A strange neglect has ever prevailed, with re- 
gard to the delicious summer fruits, as the cherry, peach, plum, ap- 
ricot, nectarine, garden strawberry, &,c. that might be cultivated 
with but little expense of time or money. No place, within my 
knowledge, in this state, is better adapted to these fruits, both as 
it respects the soil, exposure to the sun, and gardens ready made. 
Some lew individuals are beginning to think of these things, and to 
set out trees: and probably in a few years, these articles of luxury 
that may be so cheaply obtained, will be more generally attended 
to. At present, excepting a few tolerable, and some intolerable 
cherries, and a few xvild strawberries, &c. we have nothing, deserv- 
ing the name of summer fruit. A few sorry peaches, the growth 
of other places, perhaps I should mention, are occasionally sold in 
town. 

Surface of the Countrt, 4'C. — The general surface is undulat» 
ing, with no very high or steep ascents. The principal eminence, 

*The damage to bridges ia 1813, amounted to $1639 71. 

t Whitney says tliat " the river overflows the whole interval twice in a 
year, in the sprinjr, and in autumn." However, this may have been in his 
day, it is not so in this nineteenth century. 

:j:Of the Shagbark kind. Much attention was paid by some of the prin- 
cipal inhabitants, some seventy years since, in ornamentinsr diffi rent spots, 
with the elm, and we, of the present day, enjoy the heanty, and the shade. 
The present age is less considerate in this respect. Dumbiedikes^ advice to 
his sou is disregarded — " Jock, when ye hae naething else to do, ye may he 
aye sticking in a tree ; it will be growing, Jock, when ye're sleeping. My 
father tauld me sae forty years sin', but I ne'er fand time toiniud him." 



b HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

is called George hill ;* a fertile and delightful ridge, extending aboat 
two railes from southwest to northeast, on the west side of the town- 
Nearly parallel with this and rising gently from the river which 
skirts it on all sides but the north, is what is frequently termed the 
Neck, Not far from its extremity, towards the south west, is the 
centre of the town. The prospect to the east, is confined by the 
range of hills in Harvard and Bolton, beyond the intervale. To 
the west, beyond the intervale on that side, appears the whole 
length of George hill, and as the eye passes over its fine outlines, 
and gentle ascent, it rests upon the Wachusett as the back ground 
of the picture. The walnut tree, and the majestic elraj are scat- 
tered in pleasing irregularity over the wide spreading intervale 
The variety of foliage, of light and shade, and the frequent chang. 
es of tints, shadow out a landscape, that never fails to charm all 
■who are alive to natural beauties. The prospect is equally invit- 
ing from George hill, and from the hill on the road to Sterling. 

*The southern part of this hill, is the highest and in some points o^ 
view, may pass for a distinct hill. Tradition says, it took its name from an 
Indian, called by the English, George; who once had his wigwam there. The 
name I first find in the proprietor's records, is under the date of Feb. 1671. 

t There is a number of different species of the elm in Lancaster. One 
kind is very tall, the branches high and spread but little. In another the 
branches shoot out lower upon the trunk, and extend over a much larger 
space. A third kind resembles in some measure the first, in form, excepting 
that the trunk is entirely covered with twigs thickly set with leaves, and 
forming a rich green covering to the rough bark, from the ground to the large 
branches. Many of these elms are of great size : The following are the di- 
mensions of a few of them, measured by Mr. George Carter and myself, ia 
July, 1826. 

One on the Boston road, between the house of the late Dr. Atherton and 
the last bridge on the south branch of the Nashaway, measured in circumfer- 
ence twenty six feet at the roots. Another on the old common, so called, and 
near the burying ground, twenty five feet five inches at the roots ; eighteen 
feet at two feet from the ground, and fourteen feet ten inches, at four feet 
from the ground ; the diameter^of the circular area and of its branches, measur- 
ed ninety eight feet. A third, southeast Irom center bridge, and near what was 
formerly called the neck bridge, was twenty six feet six inches at the roots, 
and twenty feet, at four feet from the ground. A fourth, a little to the south 
■west of the entrance to centre road, and some fifty rods south of the church, 
twenty four feet at the roots, and fifteen feet, at four feet from the ground. 
This tree, when very small was taken up and transplanted between ninety 
and one hundred years ago by the late Col. Abijah Willard. We also meas- 
ured a sycamore tree, a little to the southwest of centre bridge and found its 
circumference at the ground, twenty five feet, and at four fiet from the 
ground, eighteen feet. The height of this tree, must be about one hundred 
feet. There are also some large and beautiful elms in front and on one side 
of the Rev. Dr. Thayer's house. They were all set out by liis immediate pre- 
decessor the Rev. Mr. flarrington. The two largest measure fifteen and 
fourteen feet at the ground. On the farm of Mr. Jonathan Wilder, on the old 
common so called, there is a beach tree which measures eleven feet. It is 
upwards of a century old. A tree of this kind, and size, is very rare in this 
part of the country. 



HISTORY OP LANCASTER. 7 

There is an appeamnce, occasionally on a summer evening that 
struck me forcibly the first time I beheld it. When the vapours 
are condensed and the moon is up, the whole expanse of the val- 
ley, appears like one broad sheet of water just below you, and ex- 
tendins^ as far as the eye can reach, in distinct vision. The tops of 
the tall trees, as they appear above the mists, look like little is- 
lands, dottinj^ the broad bay. The illusion is perfect, without bor- 
rowing largely from the imagination. 

Minerals, &;c. — More than seventy years ago, a large slate 
quarry was discovered, by a Mr. Flagg, near Cumberry pond, in the 
north part of the town. The slates were in use, as early as 1752 
or 1753, and, alter the revolutionary war, were sent in great num- 
bers to Boston, and to the atlantic slates,* and formed quite an arti.. 
cle of commerce. For many years past, however, the quarry has 
not been worked. The slates, I believe, though always considered 
as of an excellent quality, could not at least come in successful 
competition with those imported from Wales, &c, on account of the 
expense of transportation. The water is now quite deep in the 
quarry. 

The minerals, according to Dr. Robinson, are the following. — 
viz. Andalusite, reddish brown, in a rolled mass of white quartz, 
and on George hill in transition mica slate. Mucle^ abundant on 
George hill and elsewhere. Earthy Marl, an extensive bed, in 
JVew Boston, so called. Pinite, in clay slate : also, green and pur- 
ple pinite, fine specimens on George hill in granite. Spodumene, 
fine specimens, in various parts of the town. Fibrolitc, abundant in 
mica slate. Phosphate of lime, on George hill, in smail hcxahedral 
prisms in a spodumene rock, of about two tons in weight. Peat in 
the swamps and low lands, in the south west part of the town.t 

Streams and other bodies of water. — The largest stream that 
flows through the town, and indeed the largest, and most important 

* Whitney says, "great numbers of them are used in Eoston every year.'" 
This was iu 1793. 

t A Catalogue of American minerals, with their localities &c. by Samuel 
Robinson, M. D. Boston, 1825. The marl, mentioned above, is found in great 
abundance. It extends in strata, from the neighborhood, of Messrs. Poignand 
&; Plant, through New Boston, almost to the middle of the town. Though 
very valuable as a manure it is but little used. Probably individuals are not 
fully sensible of its enriching qualities. Mr. John Low, who has made use of 
it for some years, on light soils, has assured me that it increases the product 
nearly one half. The few others who have tried it, are abundantly satisfied 
of its great service. 



O HISTOnV OF LANCASTER. 

in the County, is the river Nashaway, formed by the junction of 
two branches.* The north branch rises from the springs in 4sh- 
burnham, and from Wachusett pond in Westminster, and passing 
through Fitchburg and Leominster, enters the town on the vvest. 
The south branch has two sources, one from Rocky pond on the 
east side of the Wachusett, the other from Q,uinepoxet pond, in 
Holden. These unite in West Boylston, and enter tL- town on the 
south. Tha two main branches, after pursuing a devious course 
for many miles, unite near the centre of the town, south east from 
the church. There are a few small streams that issue from Oak 
hill, Mossy, and Sandy ponds, all of which iind their way to the riv- 
er. The streams fed by the two latter ponds unite, and between 
their junction and the river, are situated the works of the Lancas- 
ter Cotton Manufacturing Company. 

Besides the rivers, there are ten ponds in Lancaster, viz : 





Jlcres. 




Acres, 


Turner's pond 


30 


Oak hill pond 


13 


Fort do. 


100 


Cumberry do. 


13 


Part of VVhite'sdo. 


80 


Clamshell do. 


50 


Great Spectacle do. 


115 


Sandy do. 


55 


Little do. do. 


24 


Mossy do. 


65 



Whitney relates, that the •' water in Cumberry pond is observ- 
ed to rise as much as two feet, just before a storm," and that •' San- 
dy pond, rises in a dry time." However pleasing it may be to be- 
lieve these things true, and to have some phenonieoa of natural 
philosophy in one's own neighborhood, I cannot venture to con- 
firm them, but contrarywise, must set thpm down, after inquiry, as 
fabulous. There are various springs in town; from three of them 
on George hill, the village situated a raile south west from the 
church, is bountifully supplied with water, by means of an aquesluct 
consisting of leaden pipes that extend in dilTerent directions and 
branches, more than two miles.j 

Bridges. — There are no less than seven bridges over the Nash- 
away supported by the town, besides one half of the bridge leading 
to Harvard. A bridge over the turnpike road, supported by the cor- 

* The first Inhabitants early gave to the north branch, the name of north 
river, the south branch they called Nashaway, and the main river, after the 
junction of the two streams, which is now properly the Nashaway, they nam- 
ed Penecook. 1 find Penecook used in the town records as late as 1736, and 
laorth river, in a deed dated 1744. 

+ A company was organized last winter by virtue of Stat. 1798, chap. 59* 
The whola *;s.pense of the work, was uot far from $'3000. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTEIV i? 

poration, and one or more private bridges, complete the riUmber. 
Great expenses, as will readily be supposed, have been hitherto 
incurred in maintaining' so many bridges — greater, indeed, than 
were necessary. It has, till lately, been usual to build them with 
piers resting upon mud sills, inviting ruin in their very construc- 
tion; for the ice freezing closely round the piers, the water upon 
the breaking up of the river in spring, works its way underneath 
the ice, which forms a compact body under the bridge, raises the 
whole fabric, which thus loosened from its foundations, is swept 
away by the accumulative force of the large cakes of ice that be- 
come irresistible by the power of a very rapid current. A better 
and by far more secure style of building has lately been adopted, 
and from its great superiority, will doubtless gain general favor 
and supercede the old method. Two bridges on the improved 
plan, each consisting of a single arch, have been constructed ; one 
in June, 1823, near " the meeting of the waters," and the other in 
June, 1826, just above, on the south branch of the river.* They 
are entirely out of the reach of the spring tide fury, and though 
more expensive at first, their durability will prove their true econ- 
omy. 

Mills, Trades, Manufactures, &c. — Lancaster contains five saw 
mills, three grist mills, two fulling and dressing mills, one carding' 
machine, one nailfactory, two lathes, turned by water, and two 
brick yards. There are also four wheelwrights, two tanners, ten 
shoemakers, one saddle and harness maker, two cabinet makers, 
one clock and watch maker, six blacksmiths, three white smiths, 
one gunsmith, one baker, one bookseller, one apothecary, one 
stone cutter, one cooper and one hatter. The business of printing 
maps, is very extensively carried on by Messrs. Horatio and George 
Carter. About 250,000 are annually struck off, and supply a great 
number of the schools in every part of the United States. In the 
various departments of this business, viz. printing, coloring, binding 
&c. fifteen peKsons are usually employed. There are fifteen or six- 
teen establishments for making combs, in which fifty persons, at 
least, are employed. The annual sales of this article are from fif- 
teen to twenty thousand dollars. In consequence of the great im- 

*The bridges vary in length from seventy to one hundred feet. Tiie 
arched bridges were constructed on a plan furnished by Mr. Farnham Pluni- 
raer, an ingenious mechanic of this town. The chords of the arches are niac- 
(y eight feet sis inches and seventy feet respectiveK, 



1-0 HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

provetnent in machinery,* within a few year?, double the quantity 
of this article is now manufactured, with a considerable deduction 
in price. 

The foundation of the Lancaster Cotton Factory, was begun in 
tlie fail of 1809, on a small stream, which empties into the south 
branch of the Nashaway. There are two large buildings, one for 
carding and spinning, with eight hundred and ninety six spindles ; 
the other for weaving, with thirty two looms, which are equal to 
delivering two hundred thousand yards of four fourths sheeting of 
two qualities, viz. No. 18 and 25, in a year. The stream on which 
the buildings are erected, is fed from swamps and powerful and nev- 
er failing springs, which are supposed to have their sources in Mos- 
sy and Sandy ponds. From the situation of the factories the fall in 
the bed of the stream is secured, upwards of a mile. This fall in 
the whole is about sixty two feet. The present improved mode of 
spinning, by means of circular spindle boxes, was iirst put in opera- 
tion in this establishment: and one of the managers was the inven- 
tor of the picker for cleaning cotton, with two beaters, now in gen- 
eral use in all well conducted establishments of the kind. The res- 
ident managers are Messrs. Foignand and Plant, who are assiduous 
in their business. Probably no establishment of the same kind and 
extent, is under better regulations, or is managed to greater advan- 
tage. 

Pot and Pearlash. — The manufacture of pot and pearlashes was 
undertaken in Lancaster, at an earlier period than in any other 
part of America. I cannot state the precise time ; but as early as 
1755, these works were in operation. 

In that year, Joseph Wilder, Jr. Esq. and Col. Caleb Wilder, 
sent m a petition to ihe General Court, that they " have acquired 
the art of making pot and pearlashes, and that they cannot ship 
them, because no assay master has been appointed." The business 
was carried on quite extensively, for many years. Col. Wilder was 
chiefly interested, and the quality of the article made by him was 
so good, that after other similar works were established, his manu- 
facture, was the most valued. 

* The improved machine was au invention of Mr. Farnham Plummer of 
this towii. It will cut one hundred and twenty dozen side combs, in a day. 
It cuts out two combs, from a square piece of horn, at the same time. The 
circular saw which was previously used, cuts but one tooth at a time. Capt. 
Asahel Harris, an intelligent man, who deals largely in this business, assures 
me that the new machine, is a saving; of nearly one haif in point of time, that 
it saves also a third part of the stock, besides much hard labor. It can be 
so constructed as to cut combs of any size. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER 



11 



Al one time the quantity sold annually, was as high as one hund- 
red and fifty tons of pearlasb, and eighty of potash. After his death 
bis son Levi Wilder conducted the business, nearly to the time of 
his own decease, in 1793. Other individuals,* have at various times 
paid attention to this business, subsequent to Col. Wilder ; but now 
it is only a matter of history in this place. 

Stores, &lc. — There are in Lancaster five public houses, six 
stores, containing English and fancy goods, SiC. and in five of them 
the usual supply of West India goods. 

Lfbraries.- — The private libraries in this town are not very nu- 
merous. There are, in all of them, about three thousand volumes. 
The books in general, are well selected, there being but little trashy 
matter. 

A social library now containing nearly four hundred volumes, 
most of them valuable, was established in the year 1790. 

To supply a want that was felt by many, a number of subscrib- 
ers joined together in the autumn of 1821, and established a Read- 
ing Room. The principal and primary object was, to procure the 
most valuable periodical publications, and such miscellaneous works 
of the day, as possessed a good reputation. It was supposed that in 
(his way, a taste for reading might increase, and that whatever 
should be done to extend and elevate the love of letters, would 
equally tend to raise the tone of society. The original plan has of 
late been somewhat enlarged, as the establishment gained favor and 
began to promise to be permanent. Besides the class of works con- 
templated at first, books arc now admitted from time to time, whoso 
fame survives the day, books that have already a standard charac- 
ter. The success of the undertaking has probably surpassed gen- 
eral expectation. The annual increase of the library! of the Read- 
ing Room is not far from one hundred volumes. The whole num- 
ber, at present, is about three hundred : and the increase has been 
greater during the last and present year, than at any earlier period, 
during the same length of time. 

Schools and Academy. — For a few years subsequent to the Rev- 
olutionary war and occasionally, before, the Grammar School was 
kept the whole year, in the centre of the town. J This arrange- 
* Dr. Wm. Dunsmoor, Dr. James Carter, Mr. Oliver Carter and others. 

t It consists of Reviews, works of fiction, poetry, history, voyages, trav- 
els, biography, kc. 

X A few historical data, relating to schools, may not be without interest. 
Ici 1729, there were three -echools, viz. on the JNeck, (near the present town 



12 HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

ment did not last long : it was supposed that the requisitions of the 
law couhl be answered in a way that would bring a fractional part 
of this school, almost to every man's door. It was therefore sooti 

house) at Wattaquaduek, (now in Bolton,) and at Bear hill, (now in Hat*- 
vard.) In 1731, tliese schools were kept as follows, viz. Bear hill 82 days, 
Wattaquaduek, 104, Neck, 177. 1736, on petition of Ebenezer Beman and 
others, it was voted, that the school should be kept at divers houses in the 
liorth part of the town; so also in the southwest part of the town. la 1742, 
three new school houses were built: this was after the incorporation of Har- 
vard and Bolton. One of them was in Chocksett (Sterling) and the other 
two in Lancaster proper. The old school house on the Neck, above mention- 
ed, was sjiven to Rev. Mr Prentice for a stable I ! 1757, voted, that the 
griramar school be kept in each precinct, (Lancaster and Sterling) " accord- 
ing to what they pay." The reading and writing schools to be kept in the 
extreme parts of the town, five months in the winter. 1762, voted to give 
leave to Col. Abijah Wiilard and others, to build a school house on the town 
land, below the Meeting house in the first parish. 1764, on petition of Levi 
Wiilard, Esq. and others, voted, that the grammar school for the year ensu- 
ing be kept in the middle of the town, provided they build a school house, 
and support the schooi for the year, after the amount of their taxes has been 
appropriated for that purpose. 

In 1767, the grammar school was kept seven months in the first, and five 
months, in the second precinct : in 1771-72-73-78, one half of the year in each. 
In 1789, the <;rammar school was kept on nearly the same plan as in 1764 ; so 
in 1789. In 1790 voted, to build a school house opposite to Gen. Greenleaf's. 
Wm. Stedman, Esq. now occupies the Greenleaf house. 

The followinpc are some of the school masters. 1724, Edward Broughton, 
1725, do. 1726 Mr. Flagg, after%vards Rev. Ebenezer Flagg, of Chester, N. H. 
graduated 1725; 1727, Henry Houghton, Jonathan Moore, Samuel Carter; 
1729, Samuel Wiilard, Esq. (Judge C. C, Pleas,) Thomas Prentice, (who 
graduated 1726, afterwards minister in Charlestown,) Mr. Bryant and Jabez 
Fox. Josiah Swan was a veteran schoolmaster : 1 find him as early as i733, 
and through many intermediate years, beginning with 1751, to 1767 inclusive. 
Mr. Swan was of Lancaster, and graduated at Cambridge, in 1733., In May 
1755, he was admitted a member of Rev. Mr. Prentice's church, and it may 
be, pursued his theological studies under the direction of Mr. P. He was set- 
tled in Dunstable, N. H. 1739, dismissed in 1746, in consequence of a di- 
vision of the town, by running the line between New Hampshire and Massa- 
chusetts. He remained there a few years, then returned to this town ; after- 
wards went to Walpole, N. H. where he died. 2 Mass. Hist. Col. 55. 1736, 
Josiah Brown and Thomas Prentice. 

Mr. Brown was probably a graduate at Harvard University that year or 
1735. He kept school for a number of subsequent years, and as late as 1765. 
1744, Brown and Stephen Frost. There was a Stephen Frost, of the class of 
1739, at Cambridge. 1746, Edward Bass of the class of 1744: afterwards 
the first bishop of Massachusetts. 1747, Bass and Joseph Palmer, who was 
afterwards a clergyman, graduated at Cambridge, 1747. 1749-50, Edward 
Phelps. 1752, Abel Wiilard, Esq. of the class of 1752, at Cambridge. Sam- 
uel Locke, Jr. afterwards Rev. Samuel Locke, S. T. D. &c. President of Har- 
vard University. He graduated at Cambridge, in 1755. The late President .'Vd- 
ams graduated the same year. 1756, Hezekiah Gates, an inhabitant of Lan- 
caster and a useful citizen. 1757-8-9 Moses Hemenway, afterwards Rev. 
Moses Hemenway, S. T. D. class of 1755, and minister of Wells, in Maine. 
1758, Mr. Warren, the celebrated General, who was killed at Bunker's Hill. 
He graduated in 1759. 1762, Mr. Parker, a graduate at Cambridge. 1762, 
Israel Atherton, of the class of that year, M. M- S. Soc. for many years 
after a distinguished physician ia Lancaster, and the first physician ol liberal 



HISTORT OF LANCASTER. 13 

voted, that rt should be kept in different parts of the tovfn, in the 
Course of each year, for the convenience of those who lived in re- 
mote places. Both the spirit and the letter of the law, were mis- 
understood, and the most important advantages intended to be se- 
cured by it, were lost. The Latin Grammar School, after linger- 
ing some years in a doubtful state of existence, was discontinued a 
few years previous to the modification of the law. As much atten- 
tion, however, it is believed, is paid here to education as in most 
other places, and we have caught something of the excitement, 
that is becoming prevalent on this subject. The school law of the 
last winter, of such manifest importance and usefulness, has already 
been productive of benefit, and has increased the interest, which 
every good citizen should take in education. There are twelve 
school districts in town. The following, is taken from the return 
of the school committee, to the General Court, in May last. 
Amount paid for public instruction, ^1005 

Amount paid for private instruction, 50 

Tuition fees at the Academy, 600 

Time of keeping school in the year, six months in each dis^ 
(rict. 

Males of the various ages specified in^the law, 351 

Females do. 349 



Total, 700 

In this number the pupils at the Academy are not included. 

Number of persons over 14 unable to read and write — None. 

Number prevented by expenses of school books, None. 

education in the County of Worcester. 17G2, Joseph Willard, afterwards 
llev. Joseph Wiliard, S. T. D. L. L. D. &;c. and late President of Harvard 
University ; graduated at Cambridge, 1765. 1764-65-66, Ensign Mann, a 
graduate at Cambridge, in 1764. 1765, Brown, probably a graduate at Cam- 
bridge, Joseph Bullard, Frederick Albert, Mr. Hutchinson, probably of the class 
of 1762, and Peter Green, now living in Concord, N. H. aged 91, and still 
active in his profession as a physician, class of 1766, M. M. S. Hon. 1766, 
John Warner, Robert Fletcher. 1767, Josiah Wilder, probably Dr. Wilder 
of Lancaster. 

It seems that a large proportion of the iastructors I have mentioned, re- 
ceived a public education. At the present day, it is far otherwise in this 
place. 

I will close this long note, with the mention of the amount of money 
raised for schools for a number of years. 1726 to 20, jG50. 1739, (after Har- 
vard and Bolton were incorporated) to 1742, £80. 1755, £50 lawful money. 
1764, and to 1769, £100. 17G9, £104. 1778, and 9, £200 depreciated cur- 
rency. 1781, £8000, old emission. 1702 and 3, £80. 1784, £100. 1804 
and 1805, $400, for Latin and Grammar school the year through, in the cen- 
tre of the town, $600, for English. 1810, $1056 in all. 1815, $1000, and 
for a number of years past, $1005. Regula,r school committees have been 
chosen aanuaUy since 1794, 



14 HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

Some years since, many of the inhabitants felt desirous of afford- 
ing their children more abundant opportunities of instruction, than 
Gould be obtained at the public schools, which, it cannot be expec- 
ted, will ever be kept the year through in the various districts. 
In order to secure a permanent school, a number of gentlemen 
from this and the neighboring towns, associated together, and estab- 
lished an Academy early inlhe summer of 1815. Few institutions 
of the kind have probably ever done more good. Many have al- 
ready been tauijht there,* who, but for its establishment, would have 
been much less favored, in their opportunities for learning. The 
building used for the school being inconveniently situated, at some 
distance from the centre of the town, an effort was made in April 
last, to obtain a subscription to erect a new building, in the centre 
of the town. A large and ample sum was obtained in town for this 
purpose, with but little difficulty. The land just south of the church 
was given by Messrs. Horatio and George Carter, who, with their 
brothers, have also subscribed most liberally, to the undertaking. 
A new and very tasteful building of brick, two stories in height, 
with a cupola and bell, is nearly completed. The situation is well 
chosen : a fine common in front is thrown open, and a beautiful view 
of the valley and rising grounds, particularly to the west, renders 
the spot delightful. It is intended to add to the present school, a 
distinct and permanent school for females, in the second story of 
the building. This indeed is a highly important part of the new" 
plan ; for it is believed, that if society is to make great advances 
in future, it must be by improving the means of female education ; 
and that the progress of society in learning, refinement and virtue, 
is in proportion to the cultivation of the female mind. An act of in- 
corporation has been applied for; a bill for that purpose passed the 
Senate at the last session of the General Court, and, without much 
question, will pass the House, next winter. The Academy thus far 
has had the advantage of able instructors : the following are their 
names, viz. 

Silas HoLMAN — M. D. Cambridge, 1816, now a physician in Gar- 
diner, Maine. He kept but a few months in the summer of 1815. 

*Mr. Frederick Wilder a graduate at Cambridge, in 1825, and son of Mr. 
Jonathan Wilder of this town, was educated at this academy. He died at 
Northampton, in the winter of 1826. He was full of promise ; he possessed a 
mind of a high order and a heart filled with every g;ood feeling and virtue, 
No one was ever more generally beloved ; the highest rank seemed to av/ait 
him, whatever path of study he might incline to pursue. Death has destroy- 
ed bright prospects and deprived the world of the good influences that a lead- 
ing and pure mind ever exercise in society. 



HISTORY OF B'aNCASTER 15 

Jared Sparks, Tutor Harvard Uoiversify, 1817 to 1819, after- 
wards clergyman in Baltimore. Now editor of the North Ameri- 
can Review, in Boston. Graduated at Harvard University, 1815- 
He was the preceptor from the summer of 1815, one year. 

John VV. Proctor, Preceptor trom summer of 18 IG, one year; 
graduated at Harvard University, 1816; now Attortiey and Counsel- 
lor at Law, in Danvers. 

George B. Emerson, From summer of 1817, two years; gradu- 
ated at Harvard University, 1817, and Tutor from 1819 to 1821 , 
for some time Preceptor of the English Cla.ssical school, and now 
of a private school, in Boston. 

Solomon P. Mile=>, from 1819 to 1821, August two years ; grad- 
uated at Harvard University, 1819, and Tutor 1821 to 1823, now 
preceptor of the high (English Classical) school, in Boston. 

Nathaniel Wood, from 1821 to 182'^, two years ; graduated at 
Harvard University 1821, Tutor 1823 to 1824, now a student at 
law, in Boston. 

'Levi Fletcher, from August 1823, to the fall of 1824; graduat- 
ed at Harvard University, 1823, now Chaplain on board the United 
States frigate Macedonian. 

Nathaniel Kingsbury, from the fall of 1824, of the class of 
1821 ; left college during the third year and went to the island of 
Cuba. He is the preceptor at this time. 

Under the present preceptor, the Academy sustains a high 
character for discipline and instruction. By the new arrangement, 
the inconveniences that are too apt to occur by the frequent change 
of teachers will be avoided. The situation of principal of the 
Academy, is to be a permanent one, as far as is practicable. 

Poor. — The support of the poor, formed for some years no in- 
considerable part of the annual tax. They were dispersed in dif- 
ferent families, in various parts of the town, among those who 
■would support them at the least expense to the town. Too often, 
-and as a natural effect of this wretched system, the lot of these un- 
fortunate persons was cast among individuals, themselves but lit- 
tle removed from absolute poverty. The system too, if such it 
could be called, was clumsy extravagance ; the highest price was 
paid for the support of the poor, and the treatment of poverty ap- 
peared like the punishment of crime.* In view of these things, 

* Various attempts, from the year 1763, to the present centnry, have 
been made, to establish a work-house, b.ut -without success, till the late e^ 
fort. 



16 HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

the town purchased (wo years since, a large farm, as an establish- 
ment for all whose circumstances compelled them to seek public 
support. It is under the care of an attentive overseer. Each in- 
dividual able to work has his appropriate duties suited to his age 
and capacity. Comfort, economy, and humanity are there united. 
Religious services are performed at stated times, and the children 
who never before received any instruction, are now regularly sent 
to school. In a moral point of view, this establishment is a public 
blessing — it prevents much immediate suffering, and much pros- 
pective ignorance and vice.* The actual expense for the support 
of the poor, which formerly was as high as ^1200, will not, in fut- 
i2re, exceed ^500. 

Population. — What little I can gather of the number of Inhabi- 
tants, at certain periods, in the seventeenth century, will be men- 
tioned, subsequently, in the civil history of this plantation. Ex- 
cepting this, there is no way of ascertaining the population earlier 
than 1764. 

Census. — 17G4— 1862 Inhabitants, 328 families. This was af- 
ter Harvard and Bolton were incorporated. 

1790—1460 Inhabitants, 214 houses. This was after Sterling 
was incorporated ; which contained by the census of the same 
year 1428 inhabitants, making the population of both places 2888, 
an increase of 1062, in 26 years, viz. from 1764 to 1790. 

1800 1584 Inhabitants. 

1810 1694 do. 

1820 1862 do. 

During the period of commercial restrictions, and the last war, 
and for a few years subsequent, the population it appears increased 
but little. Many persons emigrated to the state of New York, to 
the west of the Alleghany mountains, and to other parts of the 
country, in search of the promised land. The business of the town, 
much effected by this state of things, has of late, materially increas- 
ed, and is now greater than at any former period. The population 
at the present time, may be estimated at 2100. The number of rata- 



* It is chiefly to the exertions of the Rev. Mr. Packard, that the town is 
indebted for this establishment. He first suggested the plan in this place, 
and labored diligently to have it adopted. It is no slight praise, to have 
served with effect the cause of humanity. 

la 1786, the selectmen were ordered to bind out poor children, to the 
end, that the rising generation, may not be brought up in idleness, ignorance, 
and vice. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTEH. 17 

ble poles, at this lime, is 422. The militia is composed of three 
companies, viz. the standing company, one of Light Infantry, raised 
at large, and one of Arlillery. There is besides a part of a com- 
pany of Cavalry within the limits of the town. The whole num- 
ber of soldiers, is somewhat over two hundred. 

Births and Deaths. — The progress of population, compared 
with the losses might be very satisfactorily ascertained by accurate 
lists of births and deaths, for any given period. Some negligence 
prevails here, as well as elsewhere, in furnishing the Town Clerk 
with information on the subject. The following list, however, 
may be considered as nearly correct. 



BIRTHS. 


BIRTHS. 


DEATHS. 


DEATHS. 


1810 


38, 


1817 


39 


1810 


31 


1817 2G 


1811 


42 


1818 


42 


1811 


17 


1818 26 


1812 


40 


1819 


34 


1812 


31 


1819 20 


1813 


40 


1820 


29 


1813 


25 


1820 21 


1814 


36 


1821 


29 


1814 


29 


1821 15 


1815 


49 


1822 


31 


1815 


26 


1822 28 


1816 


39 


Total 488 


1816 


22 


Total 317* 



Deaths in the Congregational Society since the settlement of 
Rev. Dr. Thayer, October 9, 1793, to August 1, 1826, six hundred 
and fifty six. Of this number one hundred forty were over seventy ; 
and sixty six of the one hundred and forty four, over eighty years 
tjf age. The family of Osgoods, shows remarkable ages. 

Joseph Osgood died, aged 77 

his wife 92 

Jerusha 96 

Martha 92 

Joel 75 

432 
Making an average, each, of eighty six years and nearly five 
months. 

The following is a list of the ages of Deacon .losiah White and 
his family. 

Josiah the father, 90. His wife, 84. 

Their Children. 

Mary, 86 Martha, 94 

*The statement of deaths is taken from a comparison of the Church and 
town records, and is perhaps quite correct. The births are only in the town 
records, and making a reasonable addition, for names omitted, the number 
may be estimated at more than five hundred 



HISTORY OF LAN'CASTER. 



Jonatlian, 


80 


Joseph, 


60 




Hannah, 


77 


Joanna, 


75 




Abigail, 


86 


Jotham, 


87 




Josiah, 


94 


Silence, 


75 




Ruth, 


40 


John, 
Elisha, 


91 
90 




Making an average 


of eighty ye 


iars, feeven months and six da 


lys. 


A few other remarkable ages may gratify the curious. 






DIED, 




DIED. 




j\dams Sarah 


1802 81 


Phelps Edward 


1784 


90 


Atherton Israel Dr. 


1822 82 


Priest Elizabeth 


1798 


84 


his wife, Rebecca 1823 86 


" Joseph 


1798 


83 


Baldwin Keziah 


1815 91 


Pollard John 


1814 


85 


Divol Manassah 


1797 82 


Rugg John 


1799 


85 


" Ephraim 


1798 84 


" Jane 


1805 


93 


Divoll Elizabeth 


1813 93 


Robbins Bathsheba 


1805 


85 


Fletcher Mary 


1813 86 


Rugg Zeruiah 


1307 


86 


Fletcher Joshua 


1814 90 


" Lydia 


1807 


91 


Fletcher Rebecca 


1820 92 


Sawyer Josiah 


1801 


82 


Fuller Edward 


1802 85 


Simmons Micah 


1817 


83 


Houghton Elij. Capt 


. 1810 82 


Stone Isaac 


1816 


93 


" Alice 


1808 83 


Tenny Rebecca 


1802 


81 


Joslyn Mary 


1825 88 


Thurston Priscilla 


1811 


83 


" Samuel 


1826 88 


White John Capt. 


1797 


83 


Jon^s Mary 


1805 85 


Wheelock Martha 


1802 


94 


Leach Mary 


1818 86 


Wilder Martha 


1811 


94 


Nichols Joseph 


1826 82 


Wilder Samuel 


1824 


81 


Phelps Asahei 


1812 86 


Willard Simon 


1825 


97 


Priest John 


1797 88 


Wilder Ephm. Capt. 


1769 


94 


Phelps Joshua 


1784 84 








Civil History. — The first settlement of Lancaster £ 


roes far 


ba( 



in the early history of Massachusetts. It was the tenth town, in- 
corporated in the County of Middlesex, and precedes, by many 
years, every town now within the limits of the County of Worces- 
ter. Indeed, no town, so far from the sea coast, was incorporated 
so early, excepting Springfield ; Northampton was in 1654 : Chelms- 
ford, Billerica and Groton, in 1655, Marlborough, in 1660, and Men- 
don, in 1667. 

According to Winthrop, an incontrovertible authority in these 
'»hings, the plantation at Nashaway was undertaken sometime in 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 13 

11643.* The whole territory around, was in subjection to Sholan, 
or Shaumaw, Sachem of tiie Nashaways, and whose residence was 
at Waushacum,t now Sterling. Sholan occasionally visited Water- 
town, for the purpose of trading with Mr. Thomas King, who re- 
sided there. He recommended Nashawogg to King, as a place 
well suited for a plantation, and invited the English to come and 
dwell near him. 

From this representation, or from personal observation, that na- 
ture had been bountiful to the place, King united with a number of 
others,! and purchased the land of Sholan, viz. ten miles in length, 
and eight in breadth; stipulating not to molest the Indians in their 

*Gov. Winthrop'3 history of New England, date, 3d month, (May) 1644, 
and relating events that preceded that time. I have cited the passage, see 
post — Rev. Mr. Harrington states the purchase to have been made in 1645 : 
but the authority of VVinthrop is not to be questioned. Rev. Dr. Holmes 
gives the same year as Gov. Winthrop. 

t The orthography of this word is very various. Harrington spells it as 
in the text ; in other parts of Worcester Magazine, it is different: Gookin iu 
liis historical collections of the Indians, writes " Weshakim." 1 Mass. Hist. 
Col. I Vol. " VVechecuni" says Roger Williams, is tlie Indian for sea. Key 
to Indian languages, Chap. IG. 

A. D. 1643, VVinthrop says that " Nashacowam and Wassamagoiu 
two Sachems, near the great hill to the west culled Warehasset, (Wachusett,) 
came into the court, and according to their former tender to the Governor, 
desired to be received under our protection and government, &c. so we caus- 
ing them to understand the ten commandments of God and they freely assent- 
ing to all, they were solenimly receivL-d and then presented by the court with 
twenty fathoms more of Wampum, and the court gave each of them a coat of 
two yards of cloth, and their dinner; and to them and their men, every of 
them a cup of sack at their departure, so they took their leave and went away 
very joyful." Coats and dinners and sack, were wonderful persuasives with 
(he Indians. Was not " Nashacowam," the same with Sholan ? 

X John Prescott, Harmon Garrett, Thomas Skidmore, Mr. Stephen Day, 
Mr. Symonds, &c. Here Mr. Harrington in his century sermon stops. Who 
are meant by &c. it is impossible to ascertain ; perhaps, they may be Gill, 
Uavies and others, mentioned subsequently in the text. Ol those first men- 
tioned, a few gleanings may not be without interest. Prescott came front 
Watertown : Garrett probably from Charlestown. He never moved to Lan- 
caster. Two tliousand acres of land, were mortgaged to him by Jethro the 
christian Indian, and laid out to Garrett, near Assabeth river, in 1651. There 
■were two or more of the name of Garrett at this time in New England. Where 
Harmon lived, I do not discover. An Indian of the same name, lived in 
Rhode Island. 3 Mass. Hist. Col. I. 221. Skidmore is mentioned in Boston 
Records, as of Cambridge, in 1643. Day was of Cambridge, and the first 
Printer in America. In 1639, he set up a printing press at Cambridge, at the 
charge ofRev. .Joseph Glover, who died on his passage to this country. The 
press was soon after, under the management of Samuel Greene. Day occa- 
sionally visited the plantation at Nashaway. He was of Cambridge in 1652- 
'[>3, and in '57. In the last, year the General Court, on his complaint that 
he had not been compensated for his printing press, granted him lhr?e hund- 
red acres of land. Also, in 1667, they allowed him to procure of the Saga- 
more of Nashaway, one hundred and fifty acres of upland, and twenty of 
meadow. If h8 ever lived at Nashaway, he probably ©ame is 1685, Tke 
3 



20 HISTORY OF LANCASTLTl. 

hunting, fishing, or planting places. This deed was sanctioned by 
the General Court.* It was probably not a common thing for towns 
to be settled under such favorable circumstances ; not only was there 
a fair contract made, satisfactory on all sides ; but a previous invita- 
tion, in the feeling of friendship, was given to induce the English, 
to extend their population, to the valley of the Nashaway. The 
precise time of the removal to Lancaster, cannot be ascertained. 
The first building was a trucking house, erected by Symonds and 
King, about a mile southwest of the church, and a little to the north 
west of the house of the late Samuel Ward, Esq. King never moved up, 
but sold his interest to the other proprietors, who covenanted with 
each other, to begin the plantation at a certain time. To secure 
their purchase, they directed certain individuals,! to whom lots 
were given, to commence the settlement immediately, and make 
preparations for the general coming of the proprietors. Winthrop 
gives the following marked account of the first settlement. " 3d' 
mo. (May) 1644. Many of Waterlown, and other towns, joined in 
the plantation at Nashaway ; and having called a young man, a uni- 
versal scholar, one Mr. NocrotT (quere Norcross ?J) to be their 
minister, seveni§ of them, who were no members of any churches, 
were desirous (o gather into a church estate ; but the magistrates 
and elders, advised them first to go and build them habitations, &c. 
(for there was yet no house there,) and then to take some that were 
members of other churches, with the consent of such churches, as 
had formerly been done, and so proceed orderly. But the persons 
interested in this plantation, being most ot them poor men, and some 
of them corrupt in judgment, and others profane, it went on very 

town, in Feb. 1654, O. S.~]635, N. S. granted " Master Day" one hundred 
acres of upland, twenty of it for a house lot. Symonds never resided here. 
He was, perhaps, Mr. Samuel Symonds, for some years an assistant ; the title 
"Mr." not then universal, but confined to particular persons, somewhat 
strengthens this suggestion. King was a proprietor of Marlborough, in 1660. 

* This deed, I believe is not, in rebus existentibus. I have diligently 
searched in Middlesex, and Suffolk recoids, and in the office of the Secretary 
of State, without success. 

t Richard Linton, Lawrence Waters and John Ball. 

J This spelling is taken from the old edition of Winthrop ; the new ed- 
ition with its corrected text^ and learned notes, by Mr. Savage, does not ex- 
tend so far. The second volume, however, which will be published in a few 
months, will reach nearly to the time of Gov. Winthrop's death. Norcross, 
is an early name in Watertown. '^ Nocroff," I have never met with. 

Mr. Savage says the conjecture is right ; h^' also says, that in the same para 
graph of Winthrop ; "•Universal scholar" should be " University scholar." 

{This number was necessary, according to Johnson's wonder working 
providence, to constitute a church, in the colony. 2 Mass, Hist. Col. II. 7L 



HJSTORV OF LANCASTER. 21 

slowly, SO that in two years, they had not three houses built there, 
and he whom they had called to be their minister, left them for 
their delays.*'* 

It appears further by the records of the General Court 1. 8. 45 
(Oct. 1645,) that " upon the petition of the undertakers for the 
plantation at Nashaway, the Court is willing, that John Gill, Ser- 
geant John Davies,t John Chandler, Isaiah Walker and Matthew 
Barnes, or any three of them shall have power to set out lots to all 
the planters belonging to the said plantation, provided that they set 
not their houses too far asunder ; and the great lots to he propor- 
tionable to men's estates and charges ; and that no man shall have 
his lot confirmed to him before he has taken the oath of fidelity." 
These men, however, did nothing to forward the plantation. The 
General Court felt still unwilling to give up all effort to advance 
the growth of the place, as appears by the record of a subsequent 
session : I will recite it, trusting that I shall not be thought too mi- 
nute in the early, and most interesting portion of the history of the 
town. It is as follows, viz : 

" 27, 8, 1G47" (Nov. 7, 1647, N. S.|) " Whereas the Court hath 
formerly granted a plantation at Nashaway unto Jonathan Chandler, 
&c. and that Gill is dead. Chandler, Walker, and Davies§ have sig- 
nified unto the Court, that since the same grant, they have acted 
nothing as undertakers there, nor laid out any lands, and further 
have made request to the Court to take in the said grant, manifest- 
ing their utter unwillingness to be engaged therein, the Court doth 
not tuink fit to destroy the said plantation, but rather to encourage 
it ; only in regard the persons now upon it are so few^ and unmeet 
for such a work, and are to be taken to procure others, and in the 

* This does away the imputation in Rev. Mr. Harrington's century ser- 
mon, that the minister left them by the instigation of such of the proprietors 
as disliked removing, or else by his own aversion to the place. Winthrop 
noted down evLiits day by day, as they occurred. He is distinguished for his 
accuracy. Mr. Harrington's relation probably was derived from tradition in 
town. Wiothrop's Jourual remained in manuscript, till 1790, I believe ; of 
course Mr. Harrington had not access to a correct account of the matter, as 
his discourse was preached in 1753. 

t The same probably who distinguished himself in the Pequot war, 1637. 
2. Mass. Hist. Col. Vill. 147 ; and went against the Nianticks, Hubbard 465, 
and was sent as one of the commissioners to the Dutch m New York. Ibid, 547. 

X To speak with more accuracy, the present difference between the Juli- 
an and Gregorian year, is twelve days. Before the year 1800, it was eleven 
days. That year by the calendar of Gregory XIII, the intercalary day was 
omitted, making the difference twelve days as above stated. Before the cal- 
endar was reformed, the year began on the 25th of March, Lady Day, or An- 
nunciation. 

i These names I have not met with, excepting in the above extract from 



^2. HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

mean time to remain in the Court's power to dispose of the plant- 
ing and ordering of it." 

It appears, by what has been related, that many circumstances 
combined to retard the growth of the plantation. All the associ- 
ates, excepting Prescott, refused to fulfil their contract, though 
they chose to retain their interest. Linton and Waters* returned 
to VVatertown, where I trace them in 1646, and again to Lancaster 
in the spring of 1647. Prescott preceded them, and must be re- 
corded as the first permanent inhabitant in Lancaster. This is a 
clear inference from Mr. Harrington, (p. 1 1.) John Cowdall of 
Boston, in his deed, 5. 8 mo. 1647, of a house and twenty acres of 
Jand, at Nashaway, made to Jonathan Prescott, calls him late of 
Watertown. Others soon followed, viz. Sawyer, Atherton, Linton, 
Waters, &c. 

This is as full a sketch of the history of the plantation, previ- 
ous to 1653, as can be obtained after employing no little diligence. 

At that time, the number of families had increased to nine, and 
on the eighteenth of May of the same year, the town was incorpo- 
rated by the name of Lancaster.! As this was the first town in the 
County, in the order of time, it may not be improper to recite some 
of the provisions of the act of the General Court. They say, " In 
answer to the petition of the inhabitants of Nashaway, the Court 
find, according to a former order of the General Court, in 1647, 
that the ordering of the plantation at Nashaway is wholly in the 
Court's power." 

"Considering that there are already at Nashaway, about nine 
families ; and that several, both freemen and others, intend to go 
and settle there, some whereof are named in this petition, J the 
Court doth grant them the liberty of a township, and order that 
henceforth, it shall be called Lancaster, and shall be in the Coun- 
ty ef Middlesex." 

The next provision is to " fix the bounds of the town according 

the records of the General Court. I do 3aot feel sure that they belong to Lan- 
caster, and on the other hand, have no evidence that they belong to any oth- 
er plantation, .lames Savage, Esq. the learned editor of Winthrop, informs 
me, that this notice in the records is claimed for Weston. 

* Lawrence Waters dwelt in Watertown, as far back as 1635. 

t At this early period there were no formal acts of incorporation : the 
course was as in this instance to grant a plantation the liberty of a township, 
on certain conditions; as making suitable provision for public worship, &c. and 
when these conditions were complied with, "full liberty of a township accord- 
ing to law," was granted. It is sufficiently correct, for common purposes, to 
say, that Lancaster was incorporated May 18, 1653, O. S. 

% This petitian, and the names, are, probably, not in existence 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 23 

to Sholan's deed, beginning at the wading place, Nashavvay river, 
at the passing over to be the centre ; thence running five miles 
north, five miles south, five miles east, and three miles west, to bo 
surveyed and marked, b}' a commissioner. Six of the inhabitants, 
viz. Edward Breck, Nathaniel Hadlock, William Kerley, Thomas 
Sawyer, John Prescott, and Ralph Houghton, or any four of them 
whereof the major part are freemen, to be prudential managers of 
said town, both to see to the allotments of land for planters, in pro- 
portion to their estates, and to manage their prudential affairs, till 
the General Court are satisfied that they have able men, sufficient 
to conduct the affairs of the plantation ; then, to have full liberty 
of a town.«hip according to law." And further, it was permitted all 
the old possessors, to remain, provided they took the,oath of fidelity. 

The inhabitants were ordered to take care, that a Godly min- 
ister be maintained amongst them, that no evil persons, ene- 
mies to the laws of this Commonwealth, in judgment or practice, 
be admitted as inhabitants, and none to have lots confirmed to them, 
but such as take the oath of fidelity. 

A similar provision to this last, was common in the incorpora- 
tion of other towns, and shows the great importance that was plac- 
ed upon religion, and habits of order; that these were conceived 
to lie at the foundation of all good government, that they reached 
the highest, mingled with the humblest, and exercised a controlling 
influence over the whole character of society. The effect of 
these things in past and present times, is a fruitful subject of dis- 
cussion, — the effect upon remote generations, permits wide specu- 
lation ; not however to be indulged in, on the present occasion. 

The act of incorporation concludes, with ordering, that the inhab- 
itants remunerate such of the first undertakers, as had been at any 
expense in the plantation, "provided they make demand in twelve 
months ; and that the interest of Harmon Garrett, and such others 
of them, who had been at great charge, should be made good in 
allotments of lands; provided they improve the same, by biiilding 
and planting within three years after their land is laid out to them. 
Also that the bounds of the town be laid out, in proportion to eight 
miles square." In the fall of 1653, (Nov. 30, O. S.) the Commit- 
tee or selectmen, as they may be called, proceeded in their duties 
of laying out land, and managing the affairs of the town. The first 
division of lands, was between the two branches of the Nashaway 
to the west ; and to the east, on what is called the Neck, lying be- 
tween the north branch of the river, and the principal stream. To 



24 HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

the north branch, they gave the name of North river; the south 
branch only, they called the Nashaway; and the main river, after 
the confluence of the two streams, which is novv the Xashaway, 
the}' named the Penecook. Each portion contained twenty acres 
of upland, besides intervale. On the west, the first lot by which 
all the others on that side were bounded, was laid out to John 
Prcscott, at the place I have before mentioned, where Simonds and 
King some years before, built the trucking or trading house ; about 
a mile a little to the west of south of the present church. Then in 
regular order towards the north, followed John Moore, John John- 
son, Henry Kerley, William Kerley, (his own, and one purchased 
of Richard Smith,) and John Smith. Next, south of Prescott, was 
the land of Thomas Sawyer. The land on the Neck was divided 
as follows — first, Edward Breck, on the south east corner of the 
neck, and very near the house of Mr. Davis Whitman. Then fol- 
lowed in order, towards the north, on the same side of the way, 
Richard Linton, Ralph Houghton, (his own and one purchased of 
Prescott,) James Atherton, John White. William Lewis, John Lew- 
is, son of William, Thomas James, and Edmund Parker. Richard 
Smithes land was a triangular piece, apart from the rest, between 
the present church and Sprague bridge. Robert Breck's* land 
was on the west side of the Neck, and from the description, must 
have been in the middle of the town, by the church. 

As soon as the first division of lands was completed, the Inhab- 
itants and others entered into a covenant for themselves, their 
heirs, executors, and assigns, in substance as follows, viz : afier 
sundry orders touching the ministry, &c. which will be mentioned 
in the context, they agreed that such of them as were not inhabi- 
tants, and who were yet to come up, " to build, improve, and in- 
habit, would by the will of God, come up, to build, plant, and in- 
habit," within a year, otherwise to forfeit all they had expended, for- 
feit also their land and pay five pounds for the use of the plantation. 

To keep out all heresies, and discourage the spirit of liti- 
gation, they inserted the following article, which I will recite, viz: 
" For the better preserving of the purity of religion and ourselves 
from infection of error, we covenant not to distribute allotments, 
or receive into the plantation, as inhabitants any Excommunicant, 
or otherwise profane and scandalous, (known so to be) nor any one 
notoriously erring against the doctrine and discipline of the church- 
es, and the state and Government of this Commonwealth. And for 
* Edward Breck dwelt in Lancaster awhile. Robert never moved up. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. ' 25 

the better preserving of peace and love, and yet to keep the rules 
of justice and equity, amongst ourselves, we covenant not to go to 
law* one with another, in actions of debt, or damage, one toward* 
another, in name or estate ; but to end all such controversies, 
amongst ourselves, by arbitration, or otherwise, except in cases 
capital or criminal, that some may not go unpunished ; or that the 
matter be above our ability to judge of, and that it be with the con- 
sent of the Plantation, or selectmen thereof" 

Each subscriber engaged to pay ten shillings towards the pur- 
chase money, due to the Indians, &c. That the population might 
not be too much scattered, the first division of land was made on 
the principle of equality to rich and poor: but the second, and sub- 
sequent divisions, were according to the value of each man's prop- 
erty. Every person was put down at ten pounds, and his estate es- 
timated according to its value. They reserved to the plantation 
the right of conferring gifts of land on such individuals as they 
might see fit, as occasion might olTcr. These covenants were sub- 
scribed at different times during the few first years, as follows, viz : 

Edward Breck (a) ) "' subscribe to this for myself, and for my son Robert, 
\ save that it is agreed, we are not bound to come up 
Robert Breck, ) to inhabit within a years time, in our own persons.'" 

John Prescott, 1 

William Kerley.(M | c u -i i ^ ^ 
m. c /\ J- subscribed first, 

1 homas bawver,(^c) j 

Ralph PIoughton,(c7) J 

John Whitcomb (e) } ^^ g ^^ 
Jno. Whitcomb, Jr. j " ' 

Richard Linton, (/") 'i 

John Johnson, (^) / 4, 9 mo. 1654. 

Jeremiah Rogers, j 

John Moore,(/t) 11, 1 mo. 1653. 

* Thomas Lechford, the earliest Lawyer in New England, came to Bos 
Ion, and resided there from 1637 to 1641. Though he wrote himself of 
"•Clemenfs Inn, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman," he had but little 
professional business. He seemed to be looked upon as rather a useless ap- 
pendage to society, under the Theocracy. In his " Plain dealing," a rare, 
and curious pamphlet, he observes, that he had but little to do for a liveli- 
hood except " to write petty things." He fell under some censure, returned 
to England, irritated with the colonists, and published his pamphlet, con- 
taining, I sincerely believe, many truths. Certainly it is far from deserving 
the bad character, that was attributed to it by our ancestors. There were 
some of the profession in N. E. when this town v.'as incorporated, but they 
were probably not men of much talent or acquirements ; else, their names, at 
least, would have reached this day. In 1654, a law was passed, prohibiting 
any usual or common attorney, in any inferior court, from sitting as a dep- 
uty, iQ the general court, 



26 IllSTORV OF LANCA«TEK. 

William Lewis, (t) \ . 01 ^„ tcs-^' 
, , T '^ -* > 1, 31 mo. Iboo. 

John Lewis, ) ' 

Thomas James, 21, 3 mo. 1653. 

Edmund Parker, \ 

Benjamin Twitchell, V 1, 8 mo. 1652. 

Anthony Newton, (j) j 

Stephen DAy,(A:) ^ 

James Atherton,(/) j 

Henry Kerley,(»A ' jg^g 

Richard Smith,(n) \ ^^' ' ""^ ^'''' 

William Kerley,Jr.(o) j 

John Smith, (p) J 

Lawrence Waters,(7) \ ^sls'l'^^^Zf. ^"'^ ^^^' 
John White,(r) 1 May 1653. 

John Farrar, , v > „, c^.,* icr^? 
T I r- (*) ? 24 Sept. 1653. 

Jacob t arrar, ^ ^ 

John Houghton, ? Sept. 24, 1653. 
Samuel Dean, ^ ^ ' 

James Draper, ) . .,0 ir-c^ 

c. u r^ 1 ^ April 3, 1654. 

Stephen (jates, senT. ) ^ 

James Whiting or Witton, April 7, 1654. 

Jno. Moore, 



J no. Moore, 'i 
Edward Rigby, > 
John Mansfield, j 



April 13, 1654. 



John Towers, "i 

Richard Dwelley, S April 18, 1654. 

Henry Ward, J 

John Pierce, ) , „ i/^m 

wT u- nil- Ml 7 mo. 1654. 
William billings, ) ' 

Richard Sutton, April, 1653. 

Thomas Joslin ^2, 9 mo. 1654. 

iVathaniel Joslin, (<) ) ' 

John Rugg, 12, 12 mo. 1654. 

Joseph Rovvlandson,(m) 12, 12 mo. 1654.—- 
And it is agreed by the towu, that he shall have 
20 acres of upland, and 40 acres of intervale, in 
the Knight Pasture. 
John Rigby, 12, 12 mo. 1654. 
John Roper, (d) 22, 1 mo. 1656. 
John Tinker, (w) Feb. 1, 1657. 
Mordecai McLoad, (.r) March 1, 1658. 
Jonas Fairbanks, (]/) Marcli 7, 1659. 
Roger Sumner, (z) April 11, 1659. 
Gamaliel Bemao, May 31, 1659. 
Thomas Wilder, {an) July 1, 1659. 
JJaniel Gaines,(66) March 10, 1660, 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 27 

i65'i. By the following- spring, there were twenty families 
In the place ; and the inhabitants feeling competent to manage 
their own affairs, presented a petition to the General Court, that 

NOTES TO THE FOREGOING LIST OF NAMES. 

(a)The Bcecks were probably of Dorchester. The Rev. Robert Breck of 
Marlborough, a distinguished clergymen, who died Jan. 7, 1731, may have 
been of this race. Tliere were Brecks, early in Boston. John Duuton in his 
*' Life and errors" 1686, speaks of Madam Brick (Breck) as the " flower of 
Boston," for beauty. 2 Mass. Hist. Col. 11. 103. 

(6)VVilliamKerley, senior, was from Sudbury ; I find him lhere,in Nov. 1652. 
After the death of his wife, Ann, in March, 1658, he married Bridget Rowland- 
son, the mother, 1 think, of the Rev. Mr. Rowlaudson, in May, 1659. She died 
in June, 1662. He or his son "William, probably the former, married Rebecca 
.loslio, widow of Thomas Joslin, May, 1664. He died in July, 1670. He was 
one of the proprietors of Marlboro' in 1660. I find many years after, this 
name spelt C'arley. 

(c)Thomas and Mary Sawyer, had divers children, viz: — Thomas born July, 
1649, and was married to Sarah, bis wife, Oct. 1670.— Mary, their daughter, 
born Jan. 7, 1672 (N.S.)— Ephraim, born Jan. 7, 1651, (N.S.) killed by (he In- 
dians, at Prescotts' garrison, Feb. 1676. — Mary, bora Jan. 7, 1653, (JN.S.) — 
Klizabeth, born Jan. 7, 1654, (N.S.)— Joshua, born March, 1655, (N.S.) — 
James, horn March, 1657, (N.S.)— Caleb, born April, 1659,(N.S.)— John, born 
April, I66I, (N.S.)— Nathaniel, born Nov. 1670, (N.S.) Thomas, I think the 
ftither, was again married Nov. 1672. 

From this stock there are numerous descendants in Lancaster, Sterling, 
Bolton, &;c. 

((i)Halph Houghton came to this country not long before the town wais in- 
corporated, in company with his cousin, John Houghton, father of John Hough- 
ton Esq. usually called Justice Houghton, who will be mentioned more partic- 
ularly by and by. Ralph, and John, senior, first lived in Watertown ; Ralph 
early moved to Lancaster. John probably came up at the same time. W hen 
the town was destroyed, in 1676, they went to Woburn, where they lived till 
the town was rebuilt. Ralph was clerk or recorder as early asl656 and for 
many years, and was quite a skillful penman. A single leaf of the original 
volume of Records in his hand writing, is in existence. It was found amongst 
the papers of the late Hezekiah Galea. 

(e)Died, Sept. 1662. 

(/)Linton was of Watertown in 1646. He died, March, 1665. George Ben- 
nett, who was killed by the Indians, Aug. 22, 1675, was his grandson. 

(g)One of the same name is mentioned as one of the proprietors of Marlbor- 
ough, 1657. 

(/i)John Moore was of Sudbury in 1649. Married John Smith's daughter, 
Anna, Nov. 1654, and left a son, John, born April, 1662, and other children. 

(?') VVm. Lewis, was probably of Cambridge, He died, Dec. 1671. 

(,;') One of that name, and I suppose the same person, was a member of 
Dorchester Church, in April, 1678, and was dismissed with others, to form a 
church in Milton. This was while Lancaster remained uninhabited, after its 
destruction, by the Indians. 1 Mass. Hist. Col. IX. 194. 

(A-) An account of Day will be found in a preceding note. 

(Z) Of his children, were James, bcrn 13 May, 1654. — Joshua, 13 May, 
1656. — His wife's name was Hannah. 

(m) Henry Kerley must have been the son of William Kerley, senior. He 
married Elizabeth White, sister to Mrs- Rowlandson, Nov. 1654. His chil- 
dren were, Henry, born Jan. 1658, (N.g.) — Williaan, Jan. 1659, (N.S.) 
and killed by the Indians at the destruction of the town. — Haunah, July, 
4 



20 HISTORY OP LANCASTER. 

the power, which was given to the six individuals, the year before, 
to manage the affairs of the town, might be transferred to the town, 
and the inhabitants in general ; one of the six being dead, another 
having removed, and some of the remainder bemg desirous to re- 

NOTES TO PAGE 280. 

1663— Mary, Oct. 1666.— Joseph, March, 1669, and killed with William.— 
Martha, Dec. 1672. — Henry, the son, married Elizabeth How, in Charlestown, 
April, 1676', wher they probably retreaten, alter the town was laid waste. — 
The Keil -ya did not return alter the re-settlement, it would seem ; but went to 
Marlborough where Capt. Kerley owned land. In the pamphlet entitled 
" Revolution in New England justified," printed 1691, he gives his deposi- 
tion relating to Sir Edmund Andross' passing through that town in 1688, who 
demanded of Kerley "■ by what order they garrisoned and fortifit;d the'r hous- 
es." Kerley was then 57 years old. The one mentioned by Rev. Mr. Allen, in 
his sketch of Northborough, (ante p. 154) was probably Henry, the son. — 
There is a traditi m of Capt. Kerley, who married Mrs Rowlandson's sister ; 
that he had sundry little passages with a damsel, in the way of differences. 
On ouf of tb>-se occasions, after they were published, he pulled up the post, 
on which the publishment, as it is called, was placed, and cast it into the riv- 
er ; but, like all true lovers, they soon healed up their quarrels, and were 
married. 

(n)The name of Smith was early, so common that I cannot trace individu- 
als of the name. 

(o)A son, I think, of Wni. Kerley, Senr. He was of Sudbury, in 1652. One 
of the same name was of Sudbury, in 1672, and of Cambridge, in 1683. 

ip) John Smith died, July, 1669 

(9) Waters \\as of Watertowu, 1635-163B-1646, married Anna, daughter 
of Richard Linton. His children were, Joaeph, Jacob, Rachel and Ephraim. 

(r)There were some three or four of this name, early in New England. 
This one probably came from Weymouth. In March, 1658, at a meeting of 
the town, all the orders of the Selectmen passed, except that of Goodman 
Whit'\ which was rejected " because he feared not to speak in his own cause." 

(•s)Killed hy the Indians, August "22, 1675. His grandchildren, Jacob, 
George, Jf V n and Hen-y, lived in Concord. I'hey sold all their grandfather's 
land in Lancaster, to their uncle, John Houghton, Esq. Oct. 1697. 

(/)!Ie had a son Nathaniel, born June, 1658. 

(m) What is known of Rev. Mr. Rowlandson and family, will be related in 
the sequel. 

(j;)Roper was killed by the Indians, six weeks after the attack of Feb. 1676, 
and the very day that the inhabitants withdrew from town. 

(jii')\ find master John Tinker's name in Boston records, in 1652. He was 
Clerk and Selectman for sometime, and his chirography was very neat. In 
1659, he moved to " Pequid." 

(a:) He was killed, with his wife, and two children, Aug. 22, 1673, by the 
Indians. 

(y) Jonas Fairbanks was killed by the Indians, when they destroyed the 
the town, in Feb. 1676. His son Joshua, born April, 1661, was killed at the 
same time. 

(s)" 1660, Aug. 26. Roger Samner was dismissed, that with other christ- 
ians, at Lancaster, a Church misrht be begun there." Church records of Dor- 
chester, 1 Mass. Hist. Col. IX. 192. He married a daughter of Thomas Jos- 
lin ; as I find he is called son-in-law to the widow Rebecca Joslin, who was 
•wife to Thomas. 

(aa)He spelt his name, " Wyelder :" further accounts ©f this family, will 
be^ found in the sequel. 

(66)Killed by the Indians, Feb. 1676, 



HISTORY OF LANCASTEUl. 2^ 

Ijoquish their power.* They further requested, that the Court 
would appoint some one or more to lay out the bounds of the town. 
They say, they shall be well satisfied, if the Court willgrai.* seven 
men out often, whose names they mention, to order their munici- 
pal concerns ; and that afterwards, it shall be lawful to make their 
own elections, &c. This petition was signed by the townsmen, to 
whom the General Court on the 10th of May, 1654, returned a fa- 
vourable answer, granting them the full liberties of a township, 
and appointed Lieut. Goodnough,t and Thomas Danforth, a com- 
mittee to lay out the bounds. I cannot find that any survey was 
made in pursuance of this order, nor, at any time, till Ui59, as will 
be mentioned below. 

The first town meeting on record, was held, in the summer of 
1664, probably soon after the petition, 1 have just mentioned, was 
granted. The doings of the Committee were then confirmed and 
at a subsequent meeting, which is not dated, but must have been 
early in 1655, it was voted not to take into the town above thirty 
five families : and the names of twenty five individuals are signed, 
who are to be considered as townsmen. They are as follows, viz. 
Edward Breck, Master Joseph Rowlandson, John Prescott, William 
Kerley, senior, Ralph Houghton, Thomas Sawyer, John Whitcomb, 
and John Whitcomb, Jr. Richard Linton, John Johnson, John 
Moore, William, and John Lewis, Thomas James, Edmund Parker, 
James Atherton, Henry Kerley, Richard Smith, William Kerley, Jr. 
John Smith, Lawrence Waters, John White, John, and Jacob Far- 
rar, John Rugg. Many of these names still abound in Lancaster and 
the vicinity. 

The first highway, out of town, was probably laid out in 1653, 
according to the direction of the General Court, from Lancaster to 
Sudbury ; and lor many years this was the principal route to Bos- 
ton. 

A highway to Concord, was laid out in the spring of 1656. It 
commenced near Prescotts', in what is now called New Boston, 
thence by the then parsonage, which was a little N. E. of Rev. Dr. 
Thayer's, and over the river some 15 or 20 rods above the present 
bridge, then passing over the south end of the neck, and crossing 
Penecook river,J in the general direction of the travelled road, till 
* NathaAiel Hadlock and Edward Breck. Hadlock was the one that died, 
t Goodinow, as Johnson spells it, was of Sudbury. 2. Mass. Hist. Col. 
VII. 55. For Danforth, see note, post. 

X It crossed at the wading place of the Penecook, to the cast of what was 
afterwards called the Neck bridje. 



30 HISTORY OF LANCASTER, 

within a few years, and extendiog over Wataquodoc hill in Bolton, 
This road, I find afterwards in the proprietor's books as beginning 
at Wataquodoc hill, passing the Penecook, and North Rivers, by 
" Master Rowlandson's house, and fenced, marked, and staked up to 
Goodman Prescotts' rye field; and so between John Moore's lot 
and across the brook, &c. — and so beyond all the lots into the 
woods." The present roads on the east and west side of the neck, 
were probably laid out as early as 1664. The latter extended as 
far to the N. W. as Quassaponiken. 

In 1657, the good people of Nashaway, found that they were 
unable to manage their town affairs satisfactorily to themselves, in 
public town meetings, " by reason," they say, " of many inconven- 
iences, and incumbrances, which we find that way ; nor by select 
men by reason of the scarcity of freeemen,* being but three in 
number." It therefore repented them of the former petition, 
which I have mentioned, and they besought the General Court, to 
appoint a committee, (to use the language of the request) " to put 
us into such a way of order, as we are capable of, or any other 
way which the Honored Court may judge safest and best, &c. till 
the committee make return that the town is able to manage its 
own affairs." This request was granted, May 6th, of the same year, 
and Messrs. Simon Willard,t Edward Johnson,| and Thomas Dan- 
forth§ were appointed commissioners. 

* At the first session of the General Court, in the colony of Massachusetts, 
May, 1631, it was ordered " that no man should be admitted to the freedom 
of this Commonwealth, but such as are members of some of the churches, 
within the limits of this jurisdiction." And this was the law till 1664. None 
but freemen were allowed to hold any office. 

t Major Willard came to this country from the County of Kent, in 
1635, at the same time, I think, with the Rev. Peter Bulkley, a distinguished 
cleri>yman of Concord. He was one of the original purchasers from the In- 
diarTs of Musketaquid, afterwards called Concord. He resided there many 
years. The town was incorporated, Sept. 1635, and he was the deputy or 
Representative from the spring following, till 1654, with the omission only of 
one year. In 1654, he was chosen one of the Court of Assistants, and was 
annually re-chosen till the time of his death. He died in Charlestown, April 
24, (O. S.) 1676. This Court was the upper branch of the General Court, 
the Court of Probate, a Court for Capital and other trials of importance ; and 
with power to hear petitions, decree divorces, &c. The members, were 
magistrates throughout the Colony, and held the County Courts, the powers of 
which extended to all civil causes, and criminal, excepting life, member, 
banishment and divorces. 

:}: Johnson was of Woburn, and came from the County of Kent. He was 
the author of" Wonder working Providence of Zion's Savior, in New Eng- 
land ;" a very singular, curious, and enthusiastic work. 

i Danforth lived in Cambridge. He was distinguished in the early his- 
tory of Massachusetts -, some time one of the assistants, and Deputy Governor. 



mSTORY OF LANCASTER. 31 

TKese Commissioners were instructed to bear and determine 
the several differences and grievances which " obstruct the pres- 
ent and future good of the town" &c. and were to continue in of- 
fice till they could reiiorl the town to be of sufficient ability to 
manage its own affairs. 

The Commissioners appointed in September of the same year, 
were, master John Tinker, Wm. Kerley, sen'r, Jno. Prescott, Ralph 
Houghton, and Thomas Sawyer, to superintend the municipal con- 
cerns with power to make all necessary rates and levies, to erect 
" a meeting house, pound and stocks," three things that were thea 
as necessary to constitute a village, as, according to Knickerbocker, 
a " meeting house, tavern and blacksmith's shop" are, at the pres- 
ent day. None were to he permitted to take up their residence 
in town, or be entertained therein, unless by consent of the select- 
men, and any coming without such consent, on record, and persons 
entertaining them, were each subject to a penalty of twenty shil- 
lings per month. However much we may be inclined to smile at 
the last regulation, something of the kind probably was necessary 
in the early state of society, and especially in so remote a planta- 
tion as that of Nashaway, to exclude the idle and unprincipled ; not 
only strong hands but stout hearts, sobriety of character, and pa- 
triotism, properly so called, were needed to sustain and advance 
the interest of the town. Vicious persons would be disorderly; 
the situation was critical, the danger of giving provocation to the 
Indians would be increased, and it would require but a slight mat- 
ter to destroy the settlement. IMie commissioners directed fur- 
ther, that lands should be reserved for " the accommodation and 
encouragement of five or six able men, to take up their residence 
in the town." 

Early attention was paid by the town to its water privileges. 
Tn Nov. 1653, John Prescott received a grant of land of the inhab- 
itants, on condition that he would build a " corn mill." By a mem- 
orandum in Middle-ex Records, it appears, that he finished the 
mill and began to grind corn, the follov.'ing spring, 23. 3 mo. 1654. 
A saw mill followed in a few years, according to the Records of the 
proprietaries ; where I find that " in November 1658, at a training, 
a motion was made by Goodman Prescott, about setting up a saw 

He was one of the few who dared to oppose opeuly, the witchcraft delusion. 
Gov. Bradstreet, President Increase Mather, and Sumuel Willard, son of Ma- 
jor W. minister in Boston, and afterwards V. Pres. of the College, were al- 
most the only leading men who withstood the mighty torrent. 



32 HlSroiW OK LANCASTER. 

mill ; anJ the town voted that if he should erect one, he should have 
the grant of certain privelege?, and a large tract of land lying near 
his mill for him and his posterity forever ; and to be more exactly 
recorded, when exactly known." 

In consideration of these provisions, Goodman Prescott forthwith 
erected his mill. This was on the spot, where the Lancaster Cot- 
ton Manufacturing Company have extensive and protitable works 
under the superintendence of Messrs. Poignand k Plant. I mention 
these mills, the more particularly, as they were many years before 
any of the kind in the present County of Worcester. People came 
fi;om Sudbury to Prescotts' grist mill. The stone of this mill was 
brought from England, and is now in the vicinity of the Factory*, in 
fragments. 

There were no bridges in town till 1659. In January of tha,t 
year (3. 11 mo. 1658) it is recorded that "the Selectmen ordered 
for the bridges over Nashaway and North river, that they that are 
on the neck of land do make a cart bridge over the north riverj by 
Goodman Water's, and the}^ on the south end, do make a cart bridge 
over Nashaway about the wading place| at their own expense." 

These two bridges were supported in this way, eleven years. 
In February 1670, it was voted, that the bridges should be a town 
charge from the second day of that month, (1669, O. S.) only, it 
was ordered, that if the town should think it ''for the s.ifety of 
north bridge, that the cages be put down, that then they shall be 
set down upon the Neck's charge, the first convenient opportunity." 
There is reason to believe that no bridge was built over the Penc- 
cook, or Main river, till after the re-settlement of the town in 1679 
and 80.§ The " Great bridge by the Knight pasture," (the same as 
the Neck bridge,) a little to the east of the present centre bridge 
is spoken of in 1729, and a vote was passed in 1736, to repair this 
bridge. The road that I have before mentioned from Bolton, across 
Ihe Penecook, and " staked up to Goodman Prescott's rj« field," 
was laid out in the spring of 1656. But I assert with confidence, 
that no bridge was there as early as 1671. From 1671 to 1675, it 
ia by no means probable that the inhabitants were in a situation to 
* This rests on information received from Mr. Jonathan Wilder, of this 
town, a high authority in traditionary lore. Mrs. Wilder i? a descendant, in 
direct' line from John Prescott. 

t This was near the residence of the late Judge Sprague. 
tThis -was on the south branch, near the present mill bridge. 
i The remark, relative to the bridge in the first volum.e of Worcester 
Magazine, p. 284, in note, is incorrect.. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 33 

support three bridges,* and after that time, Metacomet's war left 
neither oppoi(\inity nor means, to pay attention to any thing buf 
self-defence. t 

1658. The Selectmen met in January following their appoint^ 
ment, and ordered the inhabitants to bring in a perfect list of their 
lands — the quality, quantity, bounds, &c. that they might be re- 
corded, to prevent future differences, by reason of mistake or for- 
getfulness. In the course of the year, finding their authority in- 
sutficicnt to manage the municipal concerns of the town, they pre- 
sented a petition to the commissioners, in which they say " the 
Lord has succeeded our endeavors to the "settling,''' we hope, of 
Master Rowlandson amongst us, and the town is,in some sort, at least, 
in a good preparative to after peace ; yet it is hard to repel the 
" boilings and breakings forth" of some persons, diflicult to please, 
and some petty differences will arise amongst us, provide w hat we 
can to the contrary," and that unless they have further power giv- 
en them, what they possess is a " sword tool, and no edge." 

The Commissioners, then in Boston, explained to the Select- 
men the extent of their powers, and authorized them to impose 
penalties in certain cases, for breach of orders, to make divisions of 
land, to appoint persons to hear and end small causes, under forty 
shillings, and present them to the County Court for allowance, &c. 
This increase of power, probably answered the purpose, so long as 
the management of affiiirs pertained to the Commissioners, and till 
it returned to the inhabitants of the town, at their general meet- 
ings. 

As was before observed, although a committee had been ap- 
pointed for that purpose some years before, it does not appear that 
the boundaries of the town were surveyed and marked before 
1659. At that time, Thomas Noyes was appointed to that service, 
by the General Court, and the selectmen voted that when "Ensign 
Noyes comes to lay out the bounds, Goodman Prescott do go with 
him to mark the bounds, and Job Whitcomb, and young Jacob Far- 
rar, to carry the chain," &c. provided " that a bargain be first 
made between him and the selectmen, in behalf of the town, for 
his art and pains." Noyes made his return 7th April, of that year 

* There was a wading place over the Penecook. — See note ante. 

t Since the above was written, I have ascertained satisfactorily, that the 
Neck bridge was built, 1718. The vote to build, was March 10, 'l718 — and 
to be finished by the first of August following. In the vote, it was ordered, 
"that the bridge have five trussells, and to be a foot higher than before." It 
would sceni then, that this was not the first bridge over the priacipal stream. 



34 HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

as follows, viz. : beginning' at the wading place of Nasliaway* river^ 
thence running a line three miles in length, N. W. one degree 
West, and from that point drawing a perpendicular line five miles, 
N. N. East, one degree North, and another S. S. West, one degree 
South. At the end of the ten miles, making eight angles, and run- 
ning at the north end, a line of eight miles, and at the south, six 
miles and a half, in the direction E. S. East, one degree East, then 
connecting the extremes of these two lines, finished the fourth side, 
makmg in shape a trapezoid. Four miles of the S. East part of the 
line, bounded on Whipsufferaget plantation, that was granted to Sud- 
bury, now included in Berlin, Bolton and Marlborough. The re- 
turn of Mr. Noyes was accepted by the Court, provided a farm of 
six hundred and forty acres be laid out within the bounds, for the 
Country's use, in some place not already appropriated. | 

The town, which for a number of years, had labored under the 
many disadvantages incident to new plantations, increased, perhaps, 
by being quite remote from other selllements, now began to acquire 
somewhat of municipal weight and importance. It was becoming a 
place, to which the enterprisingcolonists were attracted by its nat- 
ural beauties, its uncommon facility of cultivation, and by the mild 
and friendly character of the natives in the vicinity. The select- 
men, therefore, in July, 1659, found it necessary to repeal the fool- 
ish order of 1654, by which the number of families was limited 
to 35. Their eyes being opened, they conceived it to be most for 
the good of the town, "that so many Inhabitants be admitted, as 
may be meetly accommodated, provided they are such, as are ac- 
ceptable ; and that admittance be granted to so many, as shall stand 
with the description of the selectmen, and are worthy of acceptance 
according to the Commissionary acceptance."' 

1663, the town also began to feel suflicient strength to regulate 
the affairs of the Corporation by regular town meetings. The se- 
lectmen were willing, and in a letter expressed to the tovvn " that 
there was not such a loving concurrence as they could desire," in 
their proceedings, and go on to observe, that if their labors in en- 
deavoring to procure the town liberty to choose its own otiicers be 

* This it will be recollected was the South branch, and near the present 
mill bridge by Samuel Carter's mills. The main stream was invariably called 
Penecook. 

tThis is the Enjjliih name. Rev. Mr. Allen, in his sketch of Northbor- 
ough, in which he discovers the true spirit of the antiquary, says, that the In- 
dian word is Whippsuppenike. See Worcester Magazine for July,18-26, p. 134. 

:j; The tradition is, that it was laid out in the south part of the town, and in- 
cluded a very poor tract of land. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 35 

of use they desire to bless God for it; but if not, they desire not to 
create trouble to themselves, and ^rief for their loving brethren 
and neighbors," &c. &c. The town confirmed the doings of the se- 
lectmen, and petitioned the Commissioners early in the year 1665, 
to restore the full privileges to the town. The answer of the 
Commissioners is, in part, as follows — 
" Gentlemen and loving friends. 

" We do with much thankfulness to the Lord acknowledge his fa- 
vor to yourselves, and not only to you, but to all that delight in the 
prosperity of God's people, and children, in your loving compliance 
together; that this maybe continued is our earnest desire, and 
shall be our prayer to God. And wherein we may in our capacity, 
contribute thereto, we do account it our duty to the Lord, and to 
you, and for that end, do fully concur, and consent to your proposals, 
for the ratifying of what is, and for liberty among yourselves, observ- 
ing the laws and the directions of the General Court, for the elec- 
tion of your selectmen for the future." 

Simon Willard, 
Thomas Danforth, 
Edward Johnson. 

Dated, 8th 1 mo. 1664.*' 

The town was soon after relieved from the inconveniences and 
embarrassments of having its affairs directed by gentlemen residing 
at a distance, and, in future, sustained its new duties, without further 
assistance from the General Court. 

A highway was soon after laid out to Groton, passing over the 
intervale to Still river hill, in Harvard, thence to Groton in a very 
circuitous course. 

In 1669, an order was passed establishing the first Monday in 
February, at ten o'clock A. M. for the annual town meetings, and 
obliging every inhabitant, to attend, under penalty of two shillings 
unless having a good excuse. The limited population, rendered 
necessary the sanction of all qualified persons, to the municipal pro- 
ceedings. 

The affairs of the town seem to have proceeded with tolerable 
quiet for more than twenty years from the first settlement, till 1674. 
The population had increased quite rapidly and was spread over a 
large part of the township. The Indians were inclined to peace, 
and, in various ways, were of service to the Inhabitants. But this 
happy state of things was not destined to continue. The day of 
deep and long continued distress was at hand. The natives with 
5 



36 HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

whom they had lived on terras of mutual good will, were soon to 
become their bitter enemies: desolation was to spread overtlie fair 
inheritance : fire and the tomahawk, torture and death, were soon 
to be busy in annihilating all the comforts of domestic life. 

The tribe of tlie Nashaways, when the country was first settled, 
was under the chief Sachem of the Massachusetts. Gookin, who 
wrote in 1674, says, " they have been a great people in former 
times J but of late years have been consumed by the Maquas* vvars, 
and other ways, and are now not above fifteen or sixteen families.!" 
He probably referred to the setttlement at VVashacum alone. — 
There were Indians in various parts of the town at that time ; in 
fact so large a part of the tribe, as would, perhaps, swell the whole 
number to twenty five or thirty families, or from one hundred and 
fifty, to one hundred and eighty persons. This miserable remnant, 
that was rapidly wasting way by intemperance, svhich, at this day, 
destroys its thousands, was under the influence of the master spirit, 
Philip. Whilst Gookin, with Wattasacompanum, ruler of the Nip- 
mucks, was at PakacLocg, in Sept. 1674, he sent JethroJ of Natick, 
one of the most distinguished of the converted Indians, who, in gen- 
eral, made but sorry christians, to Nashaway, to preach to his coun- 
trymen, whom Eliot had never visitod. One of the tribe happened 
to be present at the Court, and declared "that he was desirously 
willing as well as some other of his people to pray to God : but 
that there were sundry of that people very wicked, and much ad- 
dicted to drunkenness, and thereby many disorders were committed 
amongst them ;'"' and he intreated Gookin to put forth his power, to 
suppress this vice. He was asked, "whether he would take upon 
him the olBce of constable, and receive power to apprehend drunk- 
ards, and take away their strength from them, and bring the de- 
linquents before the court to receive punishment." Probably ap- 
prehending some difficulty from his brethren, if he should accept 
the appointment at the time, he answered, " that he would first 
speak with his friends, and if they cliose him, and strengthened his 
hand in the work, he would come for a black staff Tind power." 

It is not known that Jethro's exhortations produced any effect. 

* A fierce tribe residin* about fifty miles beyond Albany and towards the 
lakes. 

tl Mass. Hist. Col. I. 193. 

■J: Gookin wave Jethro a letter directed to the Indians, exhorting; them to 
keep the sabbath and to abstain from drunkenness, powowing, &,c. At this 
time and for many years after Gookin was superintendant of all the Indians 
under the government of Massachusetts. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. »3 ' 

The conspiracy that in the following summer lighted up the flames 
of war, WHS secretly spreadiug, and but little opporiunity existed, 
to intprove the coudilion of the Nashavvays. At this time, ba^^a- 
more Shoslianim* was at ine head of the tribe. He posseised, it 
appears, a hostile ifcoiip.j;, and a vuidictive spirit against the English. 
He Joined heart and hand in the measures of Thilip. He probably 
engaged early in the war, and took an active part in the aUack 
upon his former friends. James C^uanapaug, who was sent out by 
the English, as a spy, in Jan. I67b, (N. S.) relates that Shoshanim 
was out witii the hostile Indians in the neighborhood of Iviennimes- 
seg, about 20 miles north of the Connecticut path. Robert Pepper 
was his prisoner. Philip was in the neighburiiood of Fort Aurania, 
(Alb.uiy) and was probably on hi« return to Mennimesseg. This 
circumstance, taken in connection with the positive declaration ot 
Rev. Mr. Harrington, in his Centory Sermon, and the Irequeni men- 
tion made of him by Mrs. Rowlandson, shows pretty conclusively 
that he had the powerful force that overwhelmed Lancaster. I 
find in a scarce pamphlet, entitled a "Brief and true Narrative oi 
the late wars risen in New England," printed late in 1675, that ihe 
report was current, that Philip had " fled to the French at Canada 
for succor." And Cotton Mather says, that ihe French from 
Canada sent recruits to aid in the war. Philip probably returned 
early in the winter with the recruits. Whilst Quanapaug was at 
Mennimesseg, one eyed John,! (an Indian every whit,) told him that 
in about twenty days from the Wednesday preceding, " they were 
to I'all upon Lancaster, Groton, Marlborough, Sudbury, and Med- 
field, and that the first thing they would do, would be to cut down 
Lancaster bridge, so as to hinder the flight of the Inhabitants,' and 
prevent assistance Irom coming to them."| The war broke out in 
June, 1675, by an attack upon Swansey,asl should have stated be- 
fore. On the 22ad day of August, the same summer, eight persons 
were killed in Lancaster.§ On the 10th (O. S.) of February fol- 
lowing, early in the morning, the Wamponoags, led by Philip, ac- 
companied by the Narrhagansetts, his allies, and also by the Nip- 

* Sam was his name in the vernacular. He succeeded Matthew, who, as 
Mr. Harrington relates, always conducted himself well towards the English, 
as did his predecessor, Sholan. Shoshamiu, after the war, was executed at 
Boston. See post. 

t Or John Monoco, 

% I. Mass. Hist. Col. I. 206, 207 and 208. 

{ George Bennett, a grandson of Richard Linton ; William Flagg; Jacob 
Farrar ; Joseph Wheeler ; Mordacai McLoad, bis wife, and two children. 



38 filSTOlRY OF LANCASTER. 

mucs and Nashaways, whom his artful eloquence had persuaded to 
join with him, made a desperate attack upon Lancaster. His forc- 
es consisted of 1500* men, who invested the town " in five distinct 
bodies and places."! There were at that time more than fifty fam- 
ilies in Lancaster. After killing a numSer of persons in difi'erent 
parts of the town, they directed their course to the housej of Mr. 
Rowlandson, the clergyman of the place. The house was pleasant- 
ly situated on the hrow of a small hill, commanding a fine view of 
the valley of the north branch of the river, and the ampilheatre of 
hills to the west, north and east. It was filled with soldiers and in- 
habitants to the number of forty two, and was guarded only in front, 
not like the other garrisons, with flankers at the opposite angles. § — 
" Quickly" says Mrs. Kowlandson " it was the dolefuUest diiy that 
ever mine eyes saw." The house was defended with determined 
bravery upwards of two hours. The enemy, after several unsuc- 
cessful attempts to set fire to the building, filled a c:irt with com- 
bustable matter, and approached in the rear, where there was no 
fortification. In this way, the house was soon enveloped in flames. 
The inhabitants finding further resistance useless were compelled 
at length to surrender, to avoid perishing in the ruins of the build- 
ing-ll No other garrison was destroyed but that of Mr. Rowland- 
son. One man only escaped.^* The rest twelve in number,jt were 
either put to death on the spot, or were reserved for torture. Of 

* Hutchinson says several hundred. I have taken the nutnber given by 
Mr. Harrington, who says it was confessed by the Indians themselves after 
the peace. 

1 1 can ascertain but three of these places, viz. Wheeler's garrison, at 
Wataquodoc hill, now S. West part of Bolton. Here they killed Jonas and 
Joshua Fairbanks and Richard Wheeler. Wheeler had been in town about 
15 years. The second was Prescott's garrison, near Poignard & Planfs Man- 
tifactory. Ephraim Sawyer was killed here ; and Heniy Farrar and (John?) 
Ball and his wile in other places. The third was JVlr. Rowlandson's. 

I This house was about one third of a mile south west of the Church. — 
The cellar was filled up only a few years since. Where the garden was, are 
a number of very aged trees, more or less decayed. These, I doubt not, date 
back to the time of Mr. Rowlandson. 

} So says Harrington. But Hubbard relates that the " fortification was 
on the back side of the building, but covered up with fire wood, and the In- 
dians got near and burnt a leanto." Edition 1677. 

II On the authority of Hubbard, I state, that the Indians destroyed about 
•le half of the buildings. 

.jj.* Ephraim Roper. 

4.t Ensign Divoll, Abraham Joslin, Daniel Gains, Thomas Rowlandson, 
William and Joseph Kerley, John McLoad, John Kettle and two sons, Josiah 
Divoll. Instead of giving the twelfth name, Mr. Harrington puts down ''&:c." 
The name therefore must rest, in nubibus. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 39 

the slain, Thomas Rowlandson was brother to the clergyman; Mrs. 
Kerley was wife of Capt. Henry Kerley, and sister to Mrs. Rowland- 
son ;* VVm. Kerley, Jr. 1 think, may have been Henry's brother, and 
.Joseph his child : I do not venture, however, to give this as a histor- 
ical fjict. Mrs. Drew,t another sister, was ofthe captives. Mrs. Ker- 
ley, and Ephraim Pioper's wile were killed in attempting to escape. 
Different accounts vary in the number of the slain, and the cap- 
tives. At least there were fifty persons, and one writer says, fifty 
five. I Nearly half of these suff<?red death. § No less than seven- 
teen ofthe Rev. Mr. Rowlandson's family, and connexions, were put 
to death or taken prisoners. He, at that time, with Capt. Kerley, 
and Mr. Drew, was at Boston soliciting military aid from Gov. Lev- 
erett and the council. The anguish they felt on their return, is 
not to be described. Their dwellings had been destroyed : the 
■wife of one was buried in the ruins, the wives of the two others, 
were in the power of the savages, threading their way, through the 
trackless forest in the midst of vvrnter; with no comforts to supply 
their necessities, no friends to cheer them, and nothing but the un- 
mingled dread of a hopeless captivity in prospect. Mrs. Rowland- 
son was taken by a Narrhagansett Indian, and sold to Quannopin,a 
Sagamore, and connected with Philip by marriage ; their squaws be- 
ing sisters. Mrs. Rowlandson's sister, was taken, it would seem by 
Shoshanim.jl 

* i\Irs. Rowlandson was Mary, daughter of Mr. White, probably John 
White, who was the richest man in town in 16-53, Henry Kerley married 
Elizabeth. 

t This name is inserted on the authority of " News from New-England :" a 
pamphlet relating to Philip's war, published in 1676. I have not met with the 
name elsewhere. 

:|: " News from New England." 

{ Abraham Joslin's wife was a captive. In the neighborhood ofPayquaoge 
(Miller's river,) being near the lime of her confinement, the Indians became 
enraged at her frequent solicitations for liberty to rt turn home, and cast her in- 
to the flames with a, young child in her arms, two years old. Of those of the 
Nashaway tribe of Indians who survived the war. apart moved to Albany, 
and the rest to Penecook, one of the New Hampshire tribes; with this tribe 
they incorporated. There have been Indians residing in town, within the 
memory of some of the present inhabitants ; they were wanderers from other 
places, and not descendents ofthe Nashaways. 

II Mrs. Rowlandson during her captivity was separated from her sister. — 
At one time when they were near, the Indian, Mrs. Drt-w's master, would not 
suffer her to visit Mrs Rowlandson, and the latter in her " removes'' remarks 
with much apparent comfort, that " the Lord requited many of their ill do- 
ings, for this Indian was hanged afterwards at Boston." 'I'his was Sept. 26, 
1676. The Sagamore of Quohoag, and old Jethro, were esecated at the same 
t-ime, at the town's end. Hubbard, Edition 1677. 



40 



HlSTOnV OF LANCASTER. 



Tlie Indians made great plnnder in various purls of the lowo. 
Tliey were ibrced, however, to retreat on the appearance of Capt. 
Wadsworlh,* who, hearing of the distressed situation of the town, 
imnrjediately marched from Marlborough, where he was stationed, 
with forty men. The Indians had removed the planks Irom the 
bridge to prevent the passage of horsemen, the river at the time 
being mach swollen, and had prepared an ambush for the foot sol- 
diers, but fortunately withdrew from that spot, before the arrival 
of the soldiers. VVadsworth stationed his men in different parts of 
the town, and remained there for some days. Beibre h's depar- 
ture, he lost one of his men, George Harrington, by the Indians. 

But the alarm of the Inhabitants was so great, and such was the 
genera! insecurity of the border towns, in the then unsettled state 
of the Country, that when the troops withdrew, about six weeks af- 
terwards, the rest of the inhabitants left under their protection, af- 
ter destroying all the houses, but two.t The return of peace on 
the death of Philip, in August, 1676, did not restore their courage 
and contiueace. For more than three years, Lancaster remained 
without an inhabitant. In Oct. 1679, a committee was appointed 
by the County Court, under a law then in force, to rebuild the town.]; 
It is probable that the resettlement look place in the spring of 
1680.§ No record exists by which the precise time or mode can 
be discovered. Some interest naturally attaches to this era, as the 
whole work of building up the town was to be again undertaken. 
Some of the first planters, or their children, who were still living, re- 
turned accompanied by others. Of the former, were the Prescotts, 
Houghtons, Sawyers, Wilders, &c. The Carters, a name now 

* Capt. Samuel Wadsworth of Milton, a brave soldier and valuable man- 
He was killed on the 18ih ol April folio-wing, in a severe battle -with the In- 
dians at Sudbury. A monument over his grave, on the spot where he fell, 
was erected by his son, Rev. President Wadsworth of Harvard College. 

t The house of public worship, was not destroyed by the Indians at this 
time. The French, according to Jaaies Quanapaug, before the commencement 
of the winter campaign " bid thtia that they should not destroy meeting lious- 
es, for there, God was worshipped.'" John Roper was killed the very day 
that the Inhabitants withdrew. 

:j: Oct. 7, 1679. The committee consisted of Capt. Thomas Prentice, 
Deacon John Stone, and William Bond. Frc-ntice, was a distinguished caval- 
ry officer in t'hilip''s v/ar. Mass. Hist. Col. Vol. V. p. 270, I. 

i To avoid the charge of plagiarism, perhaps it should be stated, that the 
account of the destruction of Lancaster, excepting what v.as taken from Mr. 
Harrington, was extracted principally from an anonymous article, written by 
the compiler, and published in the New Hampshire Historical aad Miscella- 
neous (Collections for April and iMay, 1C24 ; and another, in the Worcester 
Magazine, for Feb. 1826. Harrington took most of his account bom Hubbard; 



rasTORy ov Lancaster. 41 

quite prevalent, came in soon after tiie restoration. A number of 
brothers of that family, came from Woburn,* and took up their res- 
idence on George hill, vvhere, and in other parts of the town, many 
of their descendants still live. 

Under the numerous inconveniences, hardships and dano^ers of 
a new settlement, it is not to be supposed that the wealth or popu- 
lation of the town, for some years, increased with much rapidity. 
In 1681 and 1682, in consequence of these things, and of the ex- 
posed situation of the town, on the contines of civilization, an ex- 
emption was granted from the County rates. In 1G91, 20 pounds 
of the public taxes were allowed to the town, in consideration of 
its "•frontier situation." 

The civil history of Lancaster from 1680 to 1724, excepting 
what is preserved by Mr. Harrington, is, I fear, irretrievably lost. 
I regret this the moie, from the circumstance stated above ; and 
in common with others, have to lament, that Mr. Harrington, who 
preserved so much, did not preserve much more. Private docu- 
ments of various kinds, and important in this respect, which were 
then doubtless numerous, have since been lost by lapse of time, or 
destroyed through ignorance of their value. Tradition was then 
fresh and distinct; and, more than all, the original volume of re- 
cords containing a complete sequence of events from the first settle- 
ment in the valley of the Nashaway to the year 1724, vvas then 
in existence. What progress therefore the town made in popula 

* Thomas Carter, first minister of Woburn, came to this country in 1635. 
I find also one of that name, the same person, there is reason to suppose, who 
took the freeman's oath on the 2nd 3 mo. 1638. In 1642, Woburn vvas taken 
from Charlt'stown, and made a distinct town. There were no officers or 
members of the Church, capable of ordaining Mr. Carter, and they feared to 
invite the elders of the other churches to perform the service, as it mij-ht sa- 
vour of dependency, and Presbytery; so that at last it was performed by two 
of their own members. '• We ordain thee, Thomas Carter, to be pastor unto 
this church and people." Hubbard says " it was not to the satisfaction of the 
magistrates, and ministers present." 

In consequence, it soon became common to invite the neighboring elders to 
perform the services of ordination. Hubbard, 40li. 

Johnson remarks that the people of Woburn, " after some search, met with 
a young man named Mr. Thomas Carter, then belonging to the church of 
Christ at Watertown ; a reverend, godly man, apt to teach the sound and 
wholesome truths of Christ." &c. 2 Mass. Hist. Col. VII. 40-42. 

Mr. Carter was one of those mentioned by Cotton Mather, " young schol- 
ars whose education for their designed ministry, not being finished, j-et came 
over from England with their friends, and had their education p'-rfected in 
this country, before the College was come unto maturity enough to bestow 
its laurels." Magnalia, B. HI. 

This Thomas Carter was the ancestor of all of the name of Carter now in 
Lancaster. They propably migrated to JVashaway soon after the town was 
rebuilt. 



42 HISTORY OF LANCASTIlK. 

tion and wealth for thirty years after its resettlement is unknown. 
For the remainder of the seventeenth century, however, it is fair to 
suppose, from the assistance afforded by the General Court, and 
from the lonaf continuance of the Indian wars, that its progress was 
slow and interrupted. In the mean time the measure of the suffer- 
ings of Lancaster was not yet full. The war that was rekindled 
between France and England on the accession of William, of 
Orange, to the throne, extended to his transatiantic provinces. In 
the 18th (O. S.) July, 1692, a party of the Indians attacked the 
house of Peter Joslin, and murdered his wife, three children, and a 
widow by the name of Whitcomb, who resided in the family. Jos- 
lin himself, at the time, was at work in the field, and knew nothing 
of the terrible calamity that had befallen him, till his return home. 
Elizabeth How his wife's sister was taken captive, but was after- 
wards returned. Another child of his was put to death by the en- 
emy in the wilderness. In 1695, on a Sunday morning, Abraham 
Wheeler returning lYom garrison to his own house, was shot by the 
enemy lying in ambush. No further injury was done till 1697, 
when they entered the town under tive leaders, with an intention, 
after ascertaining the situation of affairs, to commence their attack 
on Thomas Sawyer's* garrison. It was by the merest accident, that 
they were deterred from their plan. The gates of Sawyer's garri- 
son were open. A Mr. Jabez Fairbanks, who lived at some dis- 
tance, mounted his horse, that came running towards him much 
frightened, rode rapidly to the garrison, though without suspicion, 

for the purpose of carrying away his son, who was there. 

The enemy supposing they were discovered, being just ready 
to rush into the garrison, relinquished their design, and on retreat- 
ing, tired upon the inhabitants at work in the fields. At no time, 
however, excepting when the town was destroyed, was ever so 
much injury perpetrated, or so many lives lost. They met with 
the minister, the Rev. Mr. Jolin Whiting,! at a distance from his gar- 
rison, and offered him quarter, which he rejected with boldness, and 
fought to the last against the cruel foe. After this they killed twen- 
ty others ;J wounded two more, who afterwards recovered, and took 

* This was the first planter, or his eldest son ; probably the latter. 

tA more particular notice will be taken of Mr. Whiting, in the Eccle- 
siastical sketches. 

I Daniel Hudson, his wife and two dausfhters. Hudson, first moved to 
Lancaster, in 1664. He was originally of Watertown. Ephraim Roper, his 
wife and dauu;hter, John Skait, and wife, Joseph U,ug;of, wife and three chil- 
dren. Widow Ru°;», .Tonathan Fairbanks and two children, and two chil- 
dren of Nathaniel Hudson. Harrington's Sermon. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 43 

six captive?,* five of whom in the end, returned to Lancaster. 
This sad calamity sweeping' off so large a part of their population 
called lor some religious observance, and a day of fasting and prayer 
was set apart for the purpose. The restoration of peace, in 
Europe, brought a season of repose, to the afflicted inhabitants of 
Lancaster. In 1702, the war between England and France was 
renewed. With slovv, but steady progress, it reached the Colo- 
nies. In July 1704, seven hundred French and Indians proceeded 
against Northampton. Finding that the inhabitants were prepared 
for an attack, they turned their course towards Lancaster, except- 
ing two hundred of them, who returned home, in consequence of a 
quarrel with their fellow soldiers about the division of spoil. On 
the thirty first of July, they commenced a violent and sudden at- 
tack early in the morning, in the west part of the town, and killed 
Lieut. Nathaniel Wilder, near the gate of his own garrison.! Near 
the same place, during the day, they killed three other persons.^ 
Nor was this the only injury committed by them on that day. The 
inhabitants were much inferior to the French and Indians in num- 
ber. Capt. Tyng happened, at this time, to be in Lancaster with 
a party of soldiers, and Capt. How gathered in haste what men he 
was able, and marched with tliem, from Marlborough, to the relief 
of the town. They fought with great bravery, but the great num- 
ber of the enemy forced the inhabitants to retreat into garrison. 
This gave the enemy opportunity of doing further mischief. They 
burnt the Church, besides six other buildings, and destroyed no 
small part of the live stock of the town. 

What losses the Indians sustained in their various encounters 
was never known. They were alwa3's quite careful to remove 
and conceal their slain. In this last conflict, Mr. Harrington ob- 
serves, it was thought that their lo.ss was considerable, and that a 
" French officer of some distinction, was mortally wounded," which 
excited them probably to prolong the battle. Towards evening, 
many flocked in to the relief of tlie town, and the enemy made 
good their retreat, with such success, that they were not overtak- 
en by our soldiers. On the 26th of October following, a party of 

* Jonathan Fairbanks' wife, widow Wheeler and Mary Glazer, and son 
of Ephraim Roper, John Skait and of Joseph Rugg. 

t This Nathaniel Wilder was youngest son of Thomas, the first inhabitant 
of the name of W ilder. The garrison was on the farm now owned by Mr. 
Soombes, and from the early settlement, till lately, owned by the Wilders. 

X Abraham How, John Spaulding, and Benjamin Plutchins. How and 
Hutchins were Marlborough men. Worcester Magaxioe, 11. 156. 



44 HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

the enemy was discovered at Still river, (Harvard.) Some of the 
soldiers and inhabitants went in pursuit of them : returning much 
fatigued, Rev. Mr. Gardner the minister, took upon himself the 
watch for the night. In the course ot the night, coming out of the 
sentry's box, the noise was heard by one in the house, a Mr. Sam- 
uel Prescott. As Indians were in the neighborhood, Prescott fired 
upon Mr. Gardner, supposing him to be an enemy, and shot him 
through the body. Mr. Gardner freely forgave the innocent, but 
unfortunate, cause of his death, and breathed his last, in an hour or 
two after. This closed hostilities for the melancholy year of 1704. 
On the 15th October, 1705, Thomas Sawyer, his son Elias Sawyer, 
and John Biglo, were taken captive and carried to Canada. Thom- 
as Sawyer was a man of great bravery. On the arrival of the 
party at Montreal, says Whitney, Sawyer offered to erect a saw 
mill on the Chamblee provided the French Governor would obtain 
a release of all the captives. This he promised, if possible, to do. 
The son and Biglo were easily ransomed, but the father the In- 
dians determined to put to death, by lingering torture. His deliv- 
erance was effected by the sudden appearance of a Friar, who told 
them that he held the key of Purgatory in his hand, and, unless 
they immediately released their prisoner, he would unlock the 
gates and cast them in headlong. Their superstitious fears, which 
the Catholics could so easily excite in the breast of the savage, 
prevailed. They unbound Sawyer from the stake, and deliver- 
ed him to the Governor. He finished the mill* in a year, and was 
sent home with Biglo. His son Elias, was detained a while to in- 
struct the Canadians in the art of "■ sawing and keeping the mill in 
order, and then was dismissed with rich presents."! The town 
suffered no further violence from the Indians till July 16, 1707, 
when Jonathan White was killed. On the 18th of August follow- 
ing, Jonathan Wilder,^ a native of Lancaster, was taken captive. 
The party consisting of twenty four men was pursued, the next 
day, by about thirty of the inhabitants of the two towns, and was 
overtaken in a remote part of the town, now included in Sterling, 

* Whitney from -whom the above relation is taken, says, that this was 
" the first saw mill in Canada, and that there was no artificer there capable 
of building cue.'" pp. 43, 44. 

t A grandson of Elias (Jotham Sawyer) is now living in Templeton, aged 
eighty six. He recollects riding horseback, behind his mother, to church, to 
hear Mr. Harrington's century sermon, May 28, 1753. 

:j:He was son to Lieut. Nathaniel Wilder, who was killed in 1704, as 
mentioned above, Jonathan was born April 20, 1682. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 45 

and known by the name of the " Indian fight." The day being 
quite damp, and having cases on their guns, and their packs secur- 
ed I'rom the weather, the Indians were wholly unprepared for com- 
bat. However, as only ten of the English rushed upon them 
and engaged in the action, they determined not to surrender. — 
Having killed their captive, they fought bravely till they lost nine 
of their number. On the other side two"*" were killed and tvvot 
wounded. After a lapse of three years, on the 5th of August 1710, 
a number of the enemy fired upon Nathaniel and Oliver Wilder, 
who, with an Indian servant, were at work in the fields. J The 
Indian boy was killed, but the others made their escape and reach- 
ed the garrison. From this time till peace was concluded at 
Utrecht in 1713, the inhabitants were doubtless in a continual state 
of alarm, from expectations of secret and sudden attacks, to which 
they had been trained by long and bitter experience. 

But this was the last hostile measure of the Indians, against 
Nashaway, and it may be considered, as worthy of remark, that the 
last person killed by the Indians, in this place, was himself an In- 
dian. 

The following is a list of the houses fortified, at various times 
from the year, 1670, to 1710, &c. 

Rev. Mr. Rowlandsori's Garrison., before described. 

Wheeler''s Garrison. — Now in the south part of Bolton, where 
Asa Houghton lives. 

Fortified House. — Now the farm house of Mr. Richard J. Cleve- 
land. This is where the first Judge Wilder lived. 

White''s Garrison. — On the spot where Mrs. White now lives, on 
the eas( side of the Neclc — and opposite to the house of Major Jon- 
athan Locke. 

Joslhi's Garrison. — West side of the Neck, one fourth of a mile 
north of the church, and near the house successively occupied by 
Peter Green, Dr. Manning and Dr. Peabody. 

James Wilder''s Garrison. — A large house, twenty rods back of 
the house of late Thomas Safford. This was the chief garrison. 
The house is not now standing. 

* John Farrar, and Richard Singleterry. 

t Capt. Ephraim Wilder and Mr. Samuel Stevens. Kphraim was son to 
Lieut. Nathaniel Wilder, and died Dec. 13, 1769, aged 94. 

:j: Their guns were resting against a fence at some distance, and the In^ 
dians succeeded in getting between the men and their guns before firing. 
Nathaniel was son of Lieut. Nathaniel, Oliver another son afterwards Colonel, 
appointed Justice Peace, January 28, 1762. 



46 HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

Minisfer^s Garrison. — Nearly opposite the house of Samuel 
Ward, Esq. It was erected in 1688, and successively occupied 
by Rev. Messrs. Whiting, Gardner and Prentice.* 

Thomas Sawyer'^s Garrison. — To the west of the last, and proba- 
bly a little north of the house of Samuel Flagg, Esq. 

Kalhanlel Wilder'^s Garrison. — North of the last, on Mr. Toomb's 
farm, between his house and the house of Samuel Wilder. 

John P res cotCs Garrison. — About thirty rods southeast of Messrs. 
Poignand and Plant's Factory. 

Cyprian Steven^ House. — A little to the south of the church, 
and near the house of William Stedman, Esq. on the Boston road, 
was probably a garrison. 

There were Indian settlements, besides the one at Washacum, 
at the following places, viz. near the house of Samuel Jones, not 
Jar from the road to Leominster ; one on a neck of land running into 
Fort pond; a third, east of Clam Shell pond, and north of John 
Larkin's, near Berlin ; a fourth, above Pitt's mills in the south part 
of the town. 

Hannah Wooasamug, an Indian woman, owned the covenant, and 
was baptised October, 1710. 

In November, 1702, on the petition of Lancaster for leave to 
purchase of George Tahanto, an Indian Sagamore, and nephew of 
Sholan, a tract of land adjoining the west end of the township to- 
wards the Wachusett, a committee was chosen by the General Court 
to examine the land. 

The purchase was in 1701,t but was not confirmed by the Gen- 
eral Court, owing to the distressed situation of the country, till some 
years after.J The committee made their return in 1711. The 
whole of this grant is now included in other towns; and it will be 
sufficient, on this matter, to refer to the first vol. of Worcester Mag- 

* Soon after the death of Mr. Prentice, the proprietors voted to sell the 
Church lands in Lancaster. 

t June 26, 1701, as appears by a copy in my possession in the hand writ- 
ing of John Houghton, Esq. who was proprietors clerk. 

X It is proper here to correct an inaccuracy in the sermon of Rev. Mr. 
Conant of Leominster, delivered Oct. 12, 1823. He says that " the Lancas- 
ter New, or'additional grant," was made to induce the return of the inhabi- 
tants, (of Lancaster, after its destruction by the Indians,) and that conse- 
quently the first grant of Leominster must have been prior to the year 1680." 
This grant included what is now Leominster and was not made till the eigh- 
teenth century, (1713,) as stated in the text. The purchase was made by the 
inhabitants of Lancaster, the confirmation was by the General Court. See L 
Worcester Magazine, 272-3-4-5: 



HfSTORY OF LANCASTER. 47 

azine, p. 272-3-4. It was settled as early as 1720, especially tlio 
part which is now included in Sterling. Gamaliel Beman, Samuel 
Sawyer, Benjamin Houo;hton, David Osgood, and Jonathan Osgood, 
removed to that place, from other parts of Lancaster.* 

From the close of the last Indian war the population began to 
increase rapidly. The descendants of the original planters, and the 
new comers, were spread over a broad surAice in every part of the 
town. Uninterrupted industry produced an improved state of the 
social system, and the character of the place at this time, and for 
many succeeding years, ranked high for general intelligence, good 
habits, union and prosperity.! 

In 1730, sundry people living on the east side of the Penccook 
petitioned for a new town. Afterwards, in the same year, the in- 
habitants were willing to give their consent, if the "General Court 
should see cause." An act of incorporation was granted, .Tune, 1732, 
by the name of Harvard ; at which time, there were fil'ty families 
in the place. J 

Stimulated by this success of their neighbors, and subjected to 
great inconveniences by their distance from church, the inhabitants 
living south of Harvard, and within the limits of Lancaster, in 1733, 
petitioned for a new town. This viras ret'used at the time, but was 
granted, as far as was in the power of Lancaster, in 1736, and in 
June, 1738, was incorporated by the name of BoUoti. Gamaliel 
Beman and others in Chocksett,§ stating the same grievances as 
the Bolton men, urged the same suit in 1733, in their own behalf. 
This petition was rejected for a number of years, till, in 1741, a 
conditional permission to form a separate town, was granted to 

* A minute and valuable history of Sterling having been published by 
Isaac Goodwin, Esq. it will not be expected, that I shall touch upon the same 
subject, any further than, as inciuentally, it becomes necessary, in describing 
Lancaster. 

t In May, 1721, Gershom and Jonas Rice, two inhabitants of Worcester, 
sent a letter to John Ilouj^hmn, Esq. of this town ; and Peter Rice of Marlbo- 
rough, requesting them to present a ceriain petition to the General Court, in 
behalf of Worcester, and closed with saying ; " so craving your serious 
thoughtfulness for the poor, distressed town of Worcester, we subscribe our- 
selves," (fee. 

J; Feb. 5th, 1732. The proprietors of Lancaster granted to the town of 
Harvard thirty acres of land, where the inhabitants of Harvard "have built 
a house for public worship — also for a training field, and for a burying place, 
and other public uses." Feb. 1734. They gave Mr. Stcomb, the first oiin- 
ister of Harvaid, the two islands in Bear (or Bare) hill pond. 

i This word is a corruption of Woonksechauxit, or Woonksechauckset, 
sow Sterling. 



48 HISTORY OF LANX'ASTER. 

them. To those condition?, they did not assent. Tiiey, however, 
were made a separate precinct. 

Next came forward those of the northwest, in 1737. They 
were incorporated June, 1740, by the name of Leominster. Notwith- 
standing these successive diminutions in territory, which included a 
part of Harvard and Bolton, and the whole of Leominster, the popu- 
lation and wealth of the town still ranked high, and went on increas- 
ing by the accession of new inhabitants, in the east and west precincts. 

The town, however, suffered in proportion to its means, all the 
evils that attended the state of the currency at that period. The 
general evil extended as far back, as the seventeenth century ; 
when, to meet the expenses attending the expedition against Cana- 
da in 1G90, bills of credit were issued anticipating the taxes of the 
year. This system was continued for some years, and till 1704, 
the bills were in good credit and answered the purpose of specie. 
But draughts, beyoad the means of the province to bear, being made 
to defray the heavy expenses incurred in subsequent expeditions, 
the evil at length became intolerable, and, alter the peace of 1713, 
the public mind wag turned towards finding a remedy. There was 
not sufficient silver and gold in the country to redeem the bills, and 
the very currency caused these metals to disappear. A public 
bank, loaning bills on land security, was, after much debate, estab- 
lished in 1714. The {ew, who at that day seemed to understand 
what are now deemed first principles in banking, were out voted. 
These bills, from the operation of the cause I have mentioned above, 
sunk continually in value, and to an equal extent occasioned a loss to 
the community. The system was continued many years, and pro- 
duced a continual sacrifice of property to artificial and imaginary 
wealth. The bills were loaned by trustees, in every part of the 
province, on mortgage, with interest and one fifth of the principal 
payable annually. And when the time of payment arrived, the pa- 
per having sunk much below its nominal value, the debtors would 
be obliged to pay a much larger amount in this trash, or sacrifice 
their estates in payment of the mortgages. To avoid this, laws 
were passed from time to time, extending the limit of payment, but 
prolonging only a lingering state of affairs, that must, in the nature 
of things, have its crisis, and shake the province to the centre. So 
infatuated were the people, that they supposed paper emissions 
would one day work out their redemption from distress and poverty. 

Lancaster, I find, instructed her Representative in 1731, "to 
pay such a regard to his majesty's Goveraor, as becomes the Rep- 



'KtSTOllY OF LAXCASTER. 49 

resentatKve of a loyal people, and that he also use his utmost vigi- 
lance that no infringements be made on the royal prerogative, nor 
on any of the privileges of the people ; and especially by supplying 
the treasury, without appropriations, unless of some small quantities 
that may te necessary to defray unforeseen charges that may re- 
quire prompt payment." This probably reh.ted to the Governor's 
salary. Hutchinson observes thai " the major part of the house 
vpere very desirous of giving satisfaction to the Governor, and (o 
their constituents both." Lancaster had its proportion of the vari- 
ous issues of paper from time to time, and appointed trustees among 
the inhabitants to distribute it upon mortgage.* The land bank 
company of 1741, established for the same purposes as the bank of 
1714, loaned bills of credit on security of real estate, but possessed 
no funds for redeeming them. The evil at length, after long and 
indiscribable distress was removed in a great measure, in 1749, by 
the introduction of specie, from England, in payment of the provin- 
cial expenses of the expedition against Cape Breton. 

At this time, and for many years previous, Lancaster was in the 
County of Worcester. In 1728, a petition by Capt. William Jenni- 
son, for a new County, was forwarded to Lancaster ; and the town 
instructed its Representative,! " that in case the Superior Court be 
holden at Marlborough, and two inferior Courts at Lancaster, an- 
nually, then to accede to the proposal. But in case the Courts 
cannot be so stated, then to offer such objections as the selectmen 
shall furnish him with." At a subsequent meeting, Feb. 1729, this 
vote was reconsidered, "as the westerly part of the County of Mid- 
dlesex will be broken in pieces, in case that the towns petitioned 
for by Capt. Jennison, be joined with Suffolk." It was also voted 
to " petition for a new County in the westerly part of Middlesex. "| 

This was afterwards granted and an act of incorporation was 
obtained in 1731. 

In the wars subsequent to this period many of the inhabitants 
were called into service. War was declared against Spain, in Oc- 
tober, 1739, and some of the soldiers from Lancaster perished at 

*In 1728, the proportion of the £60,000 issued in bills of credit, to which 
Lancaster was entitled, was £471 05. 

t Josiah White. 

:}: James Wilder and Jonathan HoUj^hlon were chosen ajcnts. Judge 
Joseph Wilder, a man of extensive influence in the depths vf his nisdinii, pre- 
vented Lancaster from being made a half shire town, lest it should be the 
means of corrupting the morals of the inliabitants. In 1743, an attempt, it 
seems was made to divide Uic County, Lancaster chose Wm. Richardson, 
Joseph Wilder and David \^'ild(•r, to oppose a division, before the General 
Court. 



50 HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

Jamaica in (he sickly season of the year.* At the siege of Louis- 
bourg there were present 3250 soldiers from Massachusetts, not in- 
cluding commissioned officers. In this number, there were many 
from Lancaster, both officers and men. The treaty of Aix la Chap- 
elle in 1748, by which Cape Breton was restored to the French, 
was not of long continuance. The contest was renewed in 1755, 
under a much wider range of operations, and continued with migh- 
ty effiDrts, and unabated zeal, till the French were finally driven 
from the American continent in 1762. During this war a large 
proportion of the able bodied men, both cavalry and infantry, in 
town, were actively engaged in the service.! These troops were 
not merely " food for powder" men, but the substantial yeomanry 
of the country. New England poured forth her best blood freely, 
like water, and gained the military experience that afterwards 
proved so useful in the war of '75. 

The year previous to the French war, an effort was made to 
unite the colonies for all measures of common protection and safe- 
ty. But the plan that was projected, was far from satisfactory, 
either to the King or the colonies, though for opposite reasons. In 
reference to this scheme, the representative of the town was in- 
structed "to oppose all plans of a general or partial union, that 
shall anywise encroach upon the rights and liberties of the people." 

An addition was made to the town in February, 1768, by taking 
from Shrewsbury a strip of land belonging to that town, and usual- 
ly called the Leg. Those who lived at this place, sought to be 
united to Lancaster as early as 1748, but did not obtain permission 
from the General Court. 

The minds of men were now generally intent upon the great 
■question of right, that was at this time in full discussion. The 
whole bias of this town was towards liberty. The attempts of Par- 
liament to bind us in all cases were received with indignation. 
Here, as well as elsewhere, though the stamp act was disliked, it 
was thought that reparation should be made to those who suffered 
by the mobs that law occasioned. "The cause of liberty" it was 
believed, "was a cause of too much dignity, to be sullied by turbu. 
ience and tumult.:}^ 

* Jacob Wilder in a letter written at Jamaica, Dec. 1740, after men- 
tioning: a number of his acquaintance who had died, says, 'Hhrough the prov- 
idence of God, I am in nomination for an Ensi°:u, a7i<I I hope that I may be 
filled for it.'''' There were ei°;hteen or nineteen in this expedition, who be- 
longed to Lancaster ; none of them lived to return. 

t The whole company of cavalry, excepting five privates, was out dur- 
,ing the war. 

I See the. whole of the fine passage in Farmer Dickinsou"'3 third letter. 



HISTORV OF LANCASTER. 51 

No event of much local importance occurred in town for many 
years preceding the revolution. The whole current of thought 
was turned into this one channel, the arbitrary exactions of parlia- 
ment. All men were looking forward beyond their immediate 
anxiety, to the darker prospect that clouded the future. The prin- 
ciple of resistance was at work in every village. It is quite im- 
portant to dwell somewhat at large upon the transactions of the 
town at this period, and till the termination of the war. Pos- 
sibly all are not aware how much was accomplished by town?, 
as such ; how many sacrifices were made in every way, to 
help on the cherished undertaking. New England contributed 
more, both in men and money, to the success of the great struggle, 
than all the other provinces ; and those miniature republics, the 
towns, so singular a feature in the body politic, gave to New Eng- 
land, weight and importance. 

At a town meeting, in January, 1773, "The dangerous condition 
of public affairs, in particular the independency of the Superior 
•Judges, came into discussion, as a subject of great interest. The 
representative received particular instructions, herein, and also as 
to the right claimed by the mother country, to transport persons to 
England for trial. He was directed to use his utmost endeavours 
to obtain a radical redress of grievances. 

A committee'*' was chosen, and reported the following resolves : 

" That this and every other town in the Province, has an un- 
doubted right to meet together and consult upon all matters inter- 
esting to them, when, and so often, as they shall judge tit. And it 
is more especially their duty so to do, when any infringement is 
made upon their civil or religious liberties. 

" That the raising a revenue in the colonies, without their con- 
sent, either by themselves or their representatives, is an infringe- 
ment of that right, which every freeman has to dispose of his own 
property. 

" That the granting a salary to His Excellency the Governor of 
this province, out of the revenue unconstitutionally raised from us, 
is an innovation of a very alarming tendency. 

" That it is of the highest importance to the security of liberty, 
life an property, that (lie public administration of justice, should 
be pure and impartial, and that the Judges should be free from 
every bias, either in favour of the crown or the subject. 

'• That the absolute dependence of the Judges of the superior 

* Dr. William Dunsmoor, Messrs. John Prescott, Aaron Sawyer, Josiah 
Kfndall, JosRph VVhitp, Nathaniel Wytaan and Ebenezer Allen. 
7 



52 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 



Court of this province upon the crown for their support, would if 
it should ever take place, have the strongest tendency to bias the 
minds of the Judg^es, and would weaken our confidence in them. 

"That the extension of the power of the Court of Vice Admiral- 
ty to its present enormous degree, is a great grievance and de- 
prives the subject, in many instances, of the noble privilege of En- 
glishmen, trial by jury.* 

In Sept. 1774, William Dunsmoor, David Wilder,! Aaron Saw- 
yer, Asa Whitcomb, Hezekiah Gates, John Prescott and Ephraim 
Sawyer, were chosen as a committee of correspondence.;!; £50 
were voted to buy ammunition ; two field pieces were purchased, 
and on^' hundred men were raised as volunteers, to be ready, at a 
minute's warning, to turn out upon any emergency ; to be formed 
into two companies and choose their own officers." 

Committees were also chosen to draw up " a covenant and for 
non-consumption of certain articles, and to be signed by the inhab- 
itants." Also, " to post up such persons as continue to buy, sell or 
consume any East India Teas^ in some public place in town;" and, in 
January, 1775, to "receive subscriptions for the suffering poor of 
the town of Boston," cruelly oppressed by the port bill. 

On the alarm of the commencement of hostilities, on the 19th of 
April, 1775, the company of minute men marched directlj' to Lex- 
ington, and the company of Cavalry§ under the command of Capt^ 
Thomas Gates, proceeded to Cambridge, to aid in driving the Brit- 
ish troops to Boston. The cavalry remained in Cambridge while 
their aid was considered necessary. Ten of their number enlisted 
into the service of their conntry in the Massachusetts line. 

I have no d:na at hand, by which to ascertain the number of 
men from this town, wUo joined the army during the war. The 
demands from head quarters for soldiers were numerous and were 

* In 1774, the town instructed the representative, Col. Asa Whitcomb, 
" not to vote for conipeasation to the owners of the tea destroyed, neither by 
tax nor by assessment on the people." 

t Mr. Wilder was foreman of the grand jury that voted. April, 1774, 
''that should I'eter Oliver, Eaq. appear and i.ct as .hidtre at this present Court, 
(Supreme Court at VVorcester,) they would not proceed to business,but would 
utterly refuse." 

X The corrnnitte of correspondence and safety in 1777, consisted of Col. 
Asa Whitcomb, Capt. Thomas Gates, Joshua Fletcher, Elisha Allen and Ja- 
bez Fairbanks. 

} Of this compp.ny James Goodwin, the oldest man in Lancaster, Moses 
Burpee, Samuel 'r-iwyer, John Hawkes, Phineas Fletcher and Joseph Blood, 
are I'ving;. T';l company of minute men was commanded by Capt. Benjamin 
Houghton. In June foilowiag, Andrew Haskell was the Captain. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 53 

all answered by the town with great cheerfulness. Indeed, T have 
no reason to doubt, that at different periods of the long conflict, all 
the able bodied inhabitants either in person or by substitute, were 
in the field, in defence of their country.* Large sums of money 
•were voted at various times, to encourage those who were drafted. 
Clothing for the troops and great quantities of provision were often 
purchased ; committees were chosen to furnish the families of those 
who had enlisted with the necessaries and conveniences of life, and 
in short, great and unwearied efforts were made by the town to 
help on the struggle to a successful termination.! In one instance 
only was there any hesitation. In June, 1780, an order Came from 
Government for a draft of forty men, for six months. When the 
subject was brought before the town, Josiah Kendall, a leading and 
flaming patriot, addressed himself to ihe question, and declared that 
the town could not furnish the supply, being exhausted by repeat- 
ed efTorts. Samuel Ward, Esq.J seeing the course that was likely to 
be taken, urged a compliance with the order, and was pursuaded 
that a course which he suggested, might be adopted, that would 
satisf^y the men to be drafted. On his motion, a Committee§ was im- 

* About forty were engaged in the service over nine months ; the rest 
were out for less terms of time, from one to nine months. Messrs. Jonathan 
Wilder, Silas Thurston and .Tacob Z. Weares were at the taking of Burgoyne, 

t Prices were annually set to every article of life. In the summer of 
1777, farming labor was 3s per day, wheat 6* 8rf. rye 4s 6d. per bushel — 
Physician fees — emetic 1*, cathartic li, travel 8d. per mile, vist 8rf, pulling 
toot'n do. 

■^ This gentleman died August 14, 1826, aged 87. He was born in Wor- 
cester. At the age of sixteen, he entered the arniy, early in the French war. 
He was first out as a private in 1756, and rose before 1760 to be Adjutant in 
Col. Abijah Willard's regiment. He was at the taking of Ticonderoga and 
Crown Point, by Gen. Amherst, in 1759, and of Isle aux Noix and Montreal, 
in 1760. Towards the close of the war, he commenced business in Groton, 
and moved to Lancaster, in 1767. He represented the town in the General 
Court in 1800 and 1801, and lor a great number of years served in various of- 
fices in the town. 

Few individuals, who have not been extensively engaged in public life, 
have been so widely known. His acquaintance was sought by all. No one 
who ever knew him, though but slightly, could forget him. His powers of 
entertainment were never exhausted : his hospitality was inexhaustible. His 
knowledge was eminently practical, and had he enjoyed the advantages of a 
public education, he would have been distinguished as a Statesman. A mind 
of uncommon acuteness, a quick and keen perception of character, wide views 
of men and things, belonged to Mr. \Vard, and enabled him to be highly use- 
ful as a citizen." In the daily charities of life, in giving aid to objects of pub- 
lic benevolence and usefulness, in distributions to the poor, he was ever ac- 
tive and ready. The indigent in this town have lost a valuable friend; one 
who for many years, week by week, ministered to their necessities, and whose 
good deeds will cause him to be long remembered in future years. 

i Nathaniel Balch, so celebrated for his powers of entertainment, so 
'•'merry and facete." the life of Gov. Hancock, and the great wit of his day, 



54 lilSTORV OF LANCASTEB. 

mediately chosen of which he was chairman, and they proceeded 
to take measures to pay the men. The bounty in addition to the 
wages, was sometimes paid in continental money, and, at others, in 
corn, beef, live stock, land, Sic. At this time, the old emission 
compared with gold and silver, was as 68 to 1,* and as compared 
with the new emission, as 40 to 1. The men received their boun- 
ties, in different ways. One of them, named Dunsmoor, was asked 
in What he would receive his bounty. He afiswered that Deacon 
Moore, (one of the committee,) had a piece of land adjoining his 
own farm, and he wished to own it. " Take it," cried Moore, 
" take it ; I'd rather part with that land, which is the best I have, 
than loose the whole by my neglect in aiding the cause of my coun- 
try." The effort succeeded : the forty men were drafted, paid off. 
and commenced their march within twelve days. 

In June, 1777, in pursuance of a resolve of the General Assem- 
bly, Col. Asa Whitcomb was chosen " to collect evidence against 
such persons as shall be deemed internal enemies to the state." 
Soon after, the names of a number of citizenst were placed on the 
list in town meeting, as being included in the above description. 
Most of them were afterwards stricken off. It is related of Rev. 
Mr. Harrington, one of the number, that vvhen his name was added 
to the list, on the foolish motion of some individual, the venerable 
and truly excellent man, bared his breast before his people and 
exclaimed, ''strike, strike here, with your daggers; I am a true 
friend to my country." The passion for proscribing innocent per- 
sons, soon subsided in a measure, and a new mode of managing the 

was one of the committee. He was quite a whig;, without a pprsecuting spir- 
it ; hut not liking "guns and drums," he left Boston and resided in Lancaster, 
during t)ie war. Here he was of much service in moderating the violence, 
oftentimes so unnecessary, but to which the feelings of patriotism frequently 
urged the patriots. He lived a little to the north of the church, on the Wrif- 
ford place. 

* That is, on 16th June, 1780, one Spanish milled dollar was equal to six- 
ty eight dollars of the old emission. On the first of April previous, the pro- 
portion was 4U to 1. 

t Moses Gerrish, Daniel Allen, Ezra Houghton, Joseph Moore, Solomon 
Houghton, James Carter and Rev. Timothy Harrington. At the commence- 
ment of hostilities. Col. Abijah \Viliiard,a mandamus counsellor, and his broth- 
er, Abel WiUiard, Esq. went to Boston, and remained there during the siege. 
They left the country before the war terminated. They were both very much 
beloved, particularly the latter, and their departure was a cause of regret to 
the inhabitants. Indeed, they might have remained without being molested. 
Like many others, believing that the contest was hopeless, and that inevita- 
ble defeat would place the country in a state of servitude, they left their 
homes, and when convinced that their course was uot well chosen, it was too 
late to remedy the error. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 55 

business was devised. The examinations of the suspected were af- 
terwards conducted by the committee of safety, where less excite- 
ment, and somewhat of a calm and dispassionate way of proceeding 
was introduced. No great violence however, no mobs, no riotous 
conduct disturbed the general state of the town. The spirit of 
liberty was deeply rooted and widely extended; indeed, so general 
was it, that it did not demand the moral refreshing of a mob to im- 
part an active principle. 

A number of the citizens who joined the army, were killed in 
battle, or died of their wounds. Of these, David Robhins was killed 
at Bunkjerj^Hill. Robert Phelps, wounded there, died in August, 
1775 : JoKK Ballard, Abel Wyman and John Bennett, died in 1776 ; 
Jonathan Sawyer, killed in 1777 : Joseph Phelps died of his wounds 
in 1778 : he was on board an armed vessel : Joseph Wilder died on 
board the same vessel. There were but few officers from this 
town in the continental service. Col. Henry Haskell, was a native 
of this town, lived here most of his life and died here. The other 
officers were Capt. Andrew Haskell, Lieuts. John Hewitt, Winslow 
Phelps, Philip Corey, and Jeremeel Haskell. Andrew Haskell 
was a brave soldier, and deserves a passing notice. When the ap- 
peal was made to arms, he marched to Lexington as Lieutenant of 
the company of minute men. He joined the army soon after. He 
was subsequently promoted to be a Captain in the Massachusetts 
line, and afterwards in the continental army. He possessed but lit- 
tle education, and of course but little refinement, and though a can- 
didate for higher rank, was kept from promotion by his want of 
proper dignity and self respect. Irritated with this treatment, he 
suddenly left the service. But his love of country was too power- 
ful, to su.fer him to remain idle. In the course of a few weeks, he 
again enlisted, and served as a common soldier in the continental 
army, till the peace of 1783. After this period, he lived in Lancas- 
ter till 1791, when he joined the army led by the unfortunate Ma- 
jor Gen. Arthur St. Clair, against the Indians northwest of the Ohio, 
and was killed in the memorable battle near the Miamies' villages, 
JNTov. 3, 1791, when the American forces suffered a sad overthrow. 
In Feb. 1778, the "articles of confederation and perpetual 
union between the colonies, were accepted on the part of the town. 
The various temporary constitutions for a state government, were 
agreed to, and the Constitution of this Commonwealth as it stood 
till 1821, received the assent of the town by a vote of one hundred 
and three, to seven, in May, 1780. In the choice of Governor the 



56 HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

first year, the votes were sixty nine for John Hancock, and nine 
for James Bovvdoin.* 

In April, 1781, the second precinct, formerly called Chocksett,t 
was incorporated into a town, by the name of Sterling. This meas- 
ure was, at first, not well pleasing to the inhabitants of the old par- 
ish, because the former were unwilling to aid in the support of the 
French neutrals, the bridges, and poor, to which the whole town 
was liable. However, they of Woonkseckaukset, at last, obtained 
the majority, turned out the town officers in the old parish, and 
held the town meetings in their own precinct. This was in 1780. 
This state of things not being a very agreeable one, andtlie town 
records having suffered somewhat in chirography and •emihography 
by the change of clerk, the " Pharaohs" were willing after one 
year's experience, " to let the people go. "J All former causes of 
difference, having been done away, the inhabitants of both towns 
indulged towards each other, feelings of good will and kindness. 

The war, as is well known, lelt the country in an impoverish- 
ed and exhausted condition. Industry had been abandoned ; the 
old sources of trade were for a time closed; the pursuits of peace, 
were in strong contrast to the excitement of a protracted contest. 
A disbanded army, with victory for its portion, spread its influence 
on every side ; an influence in no degree favorable to habits of 
peace, and the restraints of virtuous principle. Poverty was every 
where. A sound circulating medium, which industry alone could 
restore, was stiil wanting. 

In this state of things, the town chose John Sprague, Timothy 
Whiting, sen'r,§ and Samuel Ward, a committee to petition for a 
lottery, to enable the town to repair the numerous and expensive 
bridges it was obliged to support. Permission for a lottery was ac- 
cordingly obtained, in 1782. There were, it appears, fourteen 
classes drawn between that time and 1790. In the few first classes, 
the town was in debt to the managers ; afterwards some money was 
obtained for the repair of bridges. No scheme of taxation could 

*The highest number of votes m this town, was A. D. 1809, two hundred 
and ninety five. In the year 1814, two hundred and ninety four, viz: Ca- 
leb Strong had two hundred and twenty six, and Samuel Dexter had sixly 
eig-ht. In 1815, two hundred and ninety two, viz: two hundred thirty nine 
and fifty three. The present number of voters, is more than three hundred. 

t Woonksechauicset. 

I See AVorcester Magazine, vol. II. p. 44. 

* Father of the late Timothy Whiting;, Esq. and General John Whiting, 
^1 this town. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTEU. o i 

have been devised more injurious and extravagant. It was pay ins; 
under a fascinatin|j prospect of £rain, u much larger sum, than the 
citizens would have been obliged lo contributo by regular rates. 
Nor was this all. Many will recollect the time consumed in draw- 
ing the numerous classes of this lottery, the Idleness and consequent 
dissipation it induced, to say nothing of its natural tendency to be- 
get a love of gaming. 

1786. During the rebellion of Shays, the town was quite loyal 
to government, and a number of the citizens joined General Lin- 
coln's army and continued with him till the rebels were dispersed. 
A delegate was sent to the county convention at Leicester, in Au- 
gust, 1786 ; and some of the proceedings of that body were accept- 
ed by the town : the articles relating to a change of the Constitu- 
tion and to an issue of paper money were rejected without hesita- 
tion. 

From 1790, to 1794, a hospital was kept open in town, under 
the direction of Dr. Israel Atherton, for the purpose of inoculating 
for the small pox ; and in 1801, he was directed to ascertain the 
efficacy of the kine pock. 

In 1798. a proposition to divide the County, was negatived, but 
three votes being cast in favor and one hundred and seven against it. 

On the death of Washington, an Eulogy was delivered by Rev. 
Dr. Thayer; the pulpit was shrowded in black, and the audience 
wore emblems of mourning. 

One family of the society of Shakers, a branch of the society in 
Shirley, resides in this town. Their reputation for good order, and 
industry, and consequent thrift, makes them useful citizens. With 
the peculiarities of their religious worship the public must be well 
acquainted. With due credit for their sincerity, their diligence 
renders them a good example in the neighborhood in which they 
live. 

During the violence of party conflict, a greater degree of union 
and good fellowship was preserved here, than in many other plac- 
es, and did not give rise, as, in some instances elsewhere to religious 
dissensions and lasting bitterness. Quiet and harmony now reign in 
the midst of us ; the population and wealth of the town are increas- 
ing more rapidly than at any period, within the memory of our 
aged people. The local situation combines advantages, as a place 
of retirement for the man of leisure and fortune, whilst an abun- 
dance of highly productive soil renders it favorable for the pur- 
suits of agriculture. 



58 HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

In 1823, the old meeting- house was taken down, and a neat 
building, with a portico in front, was erected in its place. In this, 
the meeting's of the town are held for all municipal purposes. 

Ecclesiastical History. — In the act of incorporation of the town, 
the General Court ordered the inhabitants " to take care that a 
Godly minister be maintained among them.'" In the fall of the same 
year, (N'ov. 1653,) vvhen the allotments of land were completed, 
the planters entered into mutual covenants for themselves, their 
heirs, &c. and set apart " thirty acres of upland, forty of intervale, 
and twelve of meadow, forever as church lands for the use of, and 
towards the maintenance of the minister, pastor or teacher for the 
time being, or whomsoever may be stated to preach the word of 
God ;" permitting the minister " to improve* the lands himself if 
he should so choose." They further covenanted " to build a meet- 
ing house for the public assembly of thechurcli and people of God, 
to worship God according to his holy ordinances ;" the building to 
be erected " as near to the church lands and to the neck of land as 
can be without any notable inconvenience." Also " to build a 
house for the minister on the church lands." Each one agreed to 
pay ten shillings annually for his home lot towards the support of 
the minister, and to make up the deficiency, if any, in the salary, 
by an equal rate. To exclude heresy, as we have before seen, 
"and for the better preserving of the purity of religion, and them- 
selves from infection of error," they agreed " not to distribute al- 
lotments of land, nor to receive into the plantation as inhabitants, 
any excommunicante, or otherwise profane and scandalous, none so 
to be ; nor any notoriously erring again«;t the doctrinej and disci- 
cipline of the churches, and the state and government of the Com- 
monwealth." 

* The word in this sense, (occupy) was in use in New England soon af- 
ter the first settlemet of the country I have met with it earlier than 1658, 
in a number of instances. Dr. Franklin is in error, in supposing that this cor- 
ruption was not till the eighteenth century. 

t Toleration was consiJered a high crime, both by the clergy and laity, in 
the seventeenth century. Our early writers discover great indignation and 
bitterness when they touch upon the sulijecf. Ward, in his simple Cobler of 
Agawam, says, '■'• The state that will give liberty of conscience in matters of 
religion, must give liberty of conscience and conversation in their moral laws, 
or else the fiddle will be out of lune^ and some of the strings crack.'''' " It ia 
likewise said that men ought to have liberty of their conscience, and that it 
is persecution to debar them of it. I can rather stand amazed than reply to 
this ; it is an astonishment to think that the brains of men should be parboil- 
ed in such wilful ignorance. Let all the wits under the heavens, lay their 
heads together and find an assertion worse than this, (one excepted, )and I will 
petition to be chosen the unirersal idiot of the world.^'' pp. 8, 12, Ed. 1647. 



KJSTORV OF LANCASTER. 59 

"Master Joseph Rowlandson," the first minister of Lancaster, 
commenced bachelor at Camliridg'e in 1652, with all the honors of 
his cla.^s, as he appears to have constituted the whole of the class 
of that year. Of his ancestry* or the time or place of his birth, I 
know nothing. Cotton Mather calls him an author of" lesser com- 
posures. "t What these were, 1 venture to say, after diligent in- 
quiry, is not to be discovered. Mr. Rowlandson began to preach 
in Lancaster as early as the summer or fall of 1654. In February 
following, (12, 12 mo. 1654,) he subscribed the town covenant, 
which I have before mentioned, and received his allotment of land. 
The commissioners, at their meeting, April 25, 1656, directed the 
town to pay Mr. Rowlandson " fifty pounds by tSie year," taking 
" wheat at six pence per busliel," under the usual price, " and as 
God shall enlarge their estates, so shall th"y enlarge (herein an- 
swerabiy,*" Sic. In September, 1657, the Commissioners ordered 
the selectmen " to take care for the due encouragement of Master 
Rowlandson, and also for the erecting a meeting house," &c. In 
compliance with these orders, a house for worship was erected 
soon after. A town meeting was held in it in June, 1658. It was 
situated on the north east side of what is now the new burying 
ground, on the brow of the hiil, opposite to Mr. Rowlandson's house, 
and about one third of a mile a little to the west of south of the 
present church. In August, 1657, the town conveyed to Mr. Row- 
landson " by deed of gift," the house and land that had been set 
apart for the use of the ministry. After preaching in town nearly 
four years, he probably became discouraged as to the prospect of 
being invited to settle, and gave out his intention of removing from 
town. Whether this was done in sober earnest, or was merely to 
bring the town to term.s, is only a matter of conjecture at this late 
day. The following extract from the records has some point, and 
perhaps will bear being quoted. 

"Monday 3, 3 mo. 1658. On tlie certain intelligence of Master 

* I may qualify this remark in a measure. Thomas P^owlandson, who, 
1 thiak, was his father, died in Lancaster, Nov. 17, 1657. At the County 
Court in Middlesex, April, 1658, " Mr. Joseph Rov.'landson brought into Court 
the inventory of his father's estate, and had Administration g;ranted to him." 
By another entry in April Term, 1659, it appears that " the return of Mr. 
Rowlandson and his brethren concerninjj their father's estate, was accepted." 
His brother Thomas was killed, as we have seen, when the town was destroy- 
ed. 

t" Not only have we had a Danforth, a Nathaniel Mather, a Hoar, a 
Rowlandson, Szc. the authors of lesser composures out of their modest studies, 
even as with a Cesarean section, forced into light ; but also we have had an 
ITubbard, an Isaac Chauncey, a Wiliard, a Stoddard, the authors of lars;er 
composures.'" Magnaiia. book 4, part I. 
8 



60 HISTOKY OF LANCASTER. 

Rowlandson's removing- from us, the selectmen treated with him to 
know what his mind was, and his answer was, his apprehensions 
were clearer for his go'mg than for staying. They replied they 
feared his apprehensions were not well grounded, but desired to 
know his resolution. He said his resolutions were according to his 
apprehensions, for ought he knew. Then the selectmen, consider- 
ing it was a case of necessity for the town to look out for other sup- 
ply, told Master Rowlandson, that now they did look upon ihemselves 
as destitute of a minister, and should be forced to endeavor after 
some ether ; so discharging him. 

"Friday 14, 3 mo. 1658.* A messenger came from Billerica to 
fetch Master Rowlandson away ;t upon which, the town having no- 
tice given them, came together with intent to desire him to stay and 
settle amongst us : and, after some debate, it was voted as follows : 

" 1. Whether it were the mind of the town to invite Master 
Rowlandson lo abide and settle amongst them in the work of the 
ministry. The vote was aflirraative by the hands of all held up. 

" 2. Whether it was their mind to allow him for maintenance 
fifty pounds a year, one half in wheat, six pence in the bushel un- 
der the current prices at Boston and Charlestovvn, and the rest in 
other good current pay, in like proportions ; or, otherwise, fifty 
Bve pounds a year taking his pay at such rates as the prices of corn 
are set every year by the Court. The vote was afiirmative by 
the hands of all held up. 

" 3. Whether they were willing that Master Rowlandson should 
have the dwelling house which he lived in as his ovvn proper right 
according to the deed made by the town and confirmed by the 
committee ; with the point of land westward, and some land west, 
and some north, of his house, for an orchard, garden, yards, pasture 
and the like. 

" This was put to the vote and granted by the major part, (and 
opposed by none but oid Goodmno Kerley,| only there was a neuter 

* Mr. llariington says this was April 14, 1658. This is a mistake : the 
orig-inal recor I, in Ralph Houg^hton's hand writing, is distinct, 14, 3 mo. 
(May) IGjy 

t The mpaning is, that he was invite<l to preach in Billerica. After- 
ward-, in the same year, Rev. Samuel Whiting began to preach there, and 
•was ordained in April, 1663. "Hist. Memoir of Billerica,''' by John Farmer 
Esq. pp. 8—9. 

:]: Good nan Kerley (William Kerley, senior,) seems to have continued 
in a wrathful state of mind lor some time ; for though one of the number 
appointed to manage the muuicipal concerns of the town, he did not attend the 
meetings of his brethren ; it beina: a usual entry in the records that the Se- 
iectmeu met at such a time and place, all excepting Goodman Kerley. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 6l 

or two) with this proviso, that it hindered not the burying place, 
the highway, convenient space to pass to the river, and the hind* 
intended to be for the next minister, &c. 

"And upon this, Master Rovvhmdson accepted of the towns in- 
vitation, and g-ive them thanks for their grant, and agreed to the 
motion, concerning his maintenance, and promised tn abide with 
us in the best manner the Lord should enable him to improve his 
gifts in the work ofthe ministry." 

Mr. Rowlandson was, there is reason to believe, a man of good tal- 
ents and a faithful minister.! Cotton Mather and all traditmns are 
in his favor. I can gather no particulars relative to his ministry : 
the early records ofthe town being lost, and those of the church 
probably consumed, when the town vvas destroyed. Nothing can 
be found relative to his ordination. 

Mr. Harrington supposes that Mr. Rowlandson was ordained the 
same year that he accepted the invitation ofthe town. But there 
is reason to believe that this did not take place till September, 
1G60, more than two years after. The church, it seems, was not 
org<inized till that lime. This is a fair inference from the entry 
in the records of Dorchester, that on the "26th August, 1660, 
Roger Sumner was dismissed" from the church in Dorchester, "that 
with other christians, at Lancaster, a church might be formed 
there. "J Church is here spoken of as distinct from congregation. 
At that period, the law of 1641 was in force, which first establish- 
ed the right to gather churches, vesting in them the power of 
electing the pastor, &:c. — and according to the Cambridge platibrm, 
chap. ix. s. 3, 4, 5, Ordination, which was by imposition of hands, 
was to be performed by the elders ofthe church ; and if there were 
no elders, then by some of the brethren selected for that purpose, 
or, 'd the church desire it^ by the elders of other churches. 

No instance under the law of 1641 occurs to me, in which a 
minister was ordained without the intervention of the church .; the 
strictness that was then introduced continued many years, and was 
kept in full vigor by an explanatory statute in 1668. It is then a 
reasonable supposition in the absence of all opposing testimony, 
* This probably was the land opposite to the residence ofthe late Sam- 
uel Ward Esq. and extending towards the north east, and next to John 
Prescott's estate. 

tMary Gates, daughter of Stephen Gates, of Lancaster, " for bold and un- 
becoming speeches used in the public assemblies, and especially against Mr. 
Rowlandson, the minister of God's word there," upon evidence of John Pres- 
cott and others, was convicted. She acknowledged the offence and was dis- 
charged on paying for the attendance of the witnesses. Middlesex County 
CPurt Records, 1658 

1 1 Mass. Hist. Col. ix. 192 



62 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 



that the ordination did not take place earlier than September^ 
1660. 

Mr. Rowlandson was the minister of the town till it was destroy- 
ed in Philip's war, as has been already related. His wiie, after he- 
ing a prisoner eleven weeks and five days, was ransomed early in 
May, 1676, and lived in Charlestown and Boston, with her husband 
about a year. Probably in May, 1677, they moved to Weathersfield, 
in Connecticut. Mr. Rowlandson preached there a while, and died 
before Lancaster was resettled.* The name of Rowlandson is not 
common ; and I am not able to say whether there are any descend- 
ents of the worthy minister living.t 

After the town was re-settled, and for seven years, the pulpit 
was supplied by Mr. Carter (probably Samuel Carter, Harvard Uni- 
versity, 1660) William Woodrop,^ anO Mr. Oakes.§ Mr. Woodrop 
was one of the two thousand ministers turned out of their benefices 
under the act of conformity, on St. Bartholemew's day, 1662. He 
came over to New England, says Cotton Mather, " after the perse- 
cution which then hurricanoed such as were non-conformists." He 
was never settled in this town, although from Mather and Neal, it 
would seem otherwise. 

In Feb. 1688, Mr. John Whiting was invited to preach as a can- 
didate; he continued to supply the pulpit till Nov. 1690, when he 
was invited to settle, and undoubtedly was ordained soon after.|j 

* The following is a list of his children, as far as I can ascertain. I can- 
not assert that it is complete. 

Mary, born 15, H, 1657, (Jan. 1658) died 20, 11, 1660, (,Ian. 1661.) 
_ Mary born 12, 6 mo. (August) 1665. She was taken captive, at the same 
lime with her mother, and made her escape in May, 1676. 

Joseph, born 7, 1, (March) 1661. In a deed of his, July 1, 1686, to John 
Wilder, ancestor of the present Mr. Jonathan Wilder, he calls himself' of 
Lancaster yeoman.J' This proves nothing. He is not mentioned in any of 
the rates at that period, and I doubt whether he resided here, after the res- 
toration in the spring of 1680. It appears by Whitney that he was one of the 
original purchasers of Rutland, 22d December, 1686. That town, however, 
was not settled till thirty years, or more, afterv/ards. 

Sarah, born Sept. 15, 1669. Wounded by the Indians when her mother 

was taken captive, she died at New Braintree, on the ninth day afterwards. 

t One of the name 6/7 o#' a man'* ear last June in Belfast, Maine. I 

trust however, that no one from the stock of Master Joseph Rowlandson, 

could be so mordacious. 

t Magnalia B. III. Neal's New England, Chap. VIII. Harrington spells 
the name, WooddrofTe. => ? r ok' 

rrhis may have been Edward Oakes, Harvard University, 1679. 

II It was not usual during the first age of the New England Church, or in- 
deed through the seventeenth century, to have a discourse preached at ordi- 
nauon. And when the practice was introduced, the minister elect preached 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. C3 

The town voted, in Feb. 1688, to build,;a house for their minister, 
payment to be made " one eighth in money ; the rest, one half in 
worli, and one half in corn, viz. Indian, one third, and English two 
thirds, at country price, or other merchantable pay." When the 
building was fmished, the town gave Mr. Whiting possession in this 
way, viz. " at a town meeting Jau 3, 1G90, agreed to make convey- 
ance to Mr. Whiting of the house and land formerly granted by the 
town. And the town the same time went out of the house, and gave 
Mr. John Whiting possession thereol' in behalf of the whole above 
written, formerly granted by the town."* After serving faithfully 
more than nine years, he was killed as has been before related, by 
the Indians, Sept. 11, 1697, aged thirty three. I can give no j)ar- 
ticulars touching his ministry; the records of town, church and pro- 
priety, being wanting during this period.! 

Mr. Whiting was the second son of Rev. Samuel Whiting, of 
Billerica, and was born in that town, August or Sept. 1, 1664, and 
graduated at Harvard University, 16«5. He probably received his 
name from that of his grandmother, Elizabeth St. John, wife of Rev. 
Samuel Whiting of Lynn. It was neces«ary to sink the St. lest it 
should seem an acknowledgment of the authority of the Pope and 
his power of canonization. Our fathers even when they spake of 
the Apostles, and the holy fathers of the early church, did not use 
the adition of " Saint.'"J 

On the death of Mr. Whiting, the pulpit was supplied by Messrs. 
Robinson, Jones and Whitman, till the year 1701. The first of 
these, Mr. John Robinson, was afterwards settled at Duxbury, in 
Nov. 1702, and continued there till his death, in 1731.§ ''Mr. 
Jones.," says Mr. Harrington, " was invited to settle, 1| but, difficul- 
ties arising, his ordination was prevevited and he removed." Mr. 
Samuel Whitman was of the class of 1696, Harvard University, and 

* This house was pleasantly situated opposite to the house of the late 
Samuel WanJ, Esq. It was taken down a tew years ago. Those who paid 
the highest rates towards this building:, were John Moore, Jr. John Hough- 
ton, Henry Kerley, Thomas Wilder, Deac. Roger Sumner, Josiah Whitcomb, 
Ephraim Roper, &c. 

t Oliver Whiting, Esq. his brother, in January, 1717, petitioned the pro- 
prietors to have a record made of Rev. Mr. Whiting's land at Rock Meadow, 
and, also, to do what further was necessary for ratifying the bargain between 
his sister Alice and the town. A committee was chosen who gave him a 
deed in February following. 

X Hutchinson, and J. Farmer. 

* 1. Mass. Hist. Col. IX. 183. 

II May not this have been John Jones, Harvard University, 1690 ? What 
the difficulties were, is not known. 



C4 WISTORV OF LANXASTER- 

in 1699, was a school master in Salem. He was afterwards settled 
in the ministry. 

In May, 1701, Mr. Andrew Gardner was invited to preach, and 
in the following September received an invitation to be the minis- 
ter of the town. He preached in town, to great acceptance, for a 
number of years. Mr. Gardner was unfortunately killed by one of 
his society, Oct. 26, 1704, as has been already mentioned. He was 
soon to be ordained when this unfortunate occurrence brought sor- 
row upon the town. Why his ordination vvas so long deterred does 
not appear. It was indeed not customary to have this ceremony 
follow so soon after the invitation, as at the present day : but the 
delay was unusual even for that period. Tradition speaks in praise 
of Mr. Gardner ; and Mr. Harrington remarks that he died, " to the 
great grief not only of his consort, but of his people, who had an 
exceeding value for him."* The late Wm. Winthrop, in his manu- 
script catalogue, says that Mr. Gardner " was the son of Capt. An- 
drew Gardner who was killed in Canada."] 

Rlr. Hancock also, in his sermon preached at the installation of 
3Ir. Harrington, speaks of him as " son of the worthy Capt. Andrew 
Gardner, who miscarried in an expedition to Canada, under Sir Wil- 
liam Phips." Mr. Gardner was but thirty years of dge when he 
died. He was born, I have reason to believe, in th:!t part of Cam- 
bridge, which is now Brighton,! and graduated at Harvard Univer- 
sity, 1696, in the same class with Samuel Whitman. He is not in 
ilalicks in the catalogue of the University, because he never re 
ceived ordination. 

On the oist July, 1704, a short time before Mr Gardner's death, 
the meeting house was burnt by the Indians. This as I have al- 
ready mentioned, escaped destruction in Philip's war and was the 
first house of public worship in town. 

From the records of the General Court, it appears that some 
difficulty attended the erection of a second building. For, on the 
28th December, 1 704, the Court voted to allow the town forty pounds 
towards a new building, as soon as the inhabitants should erect a 
frame. And on petition of sundry of the inhabitants, referring to 
the place of setting the building, a committee was chosen " to hear 

* See also Mr. Hancock's sermon, mentioned below. 

+ Letter of James Savage, Esq. Aug. 1826. The first Judge Joseph Wil- 
der and his brother, Col. James Wilder, married sisters of Rev. Mr. Gardner. 
Ten acres of land, in town, were set off by the proprietors to his heirs in 1747. 

4 Letter from Rev. Mr. Homer of Newton. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. Wa 

the parties, and report." In May, 1706, Jolin Houghton, Esq. the 
Representative of the town for that year, petitioned that "the re- 
striction might be taken ofT against the said town's proceeding in 
the tinishing of their meeting liouse in the phice wlierc they had 
raised a frame for tiiat use." The request was granted, and the 
building was prol)ably completed that year. It was situated on the 
Old Common, so called, opposite to the second burying ground.* 

In May following Mr. Gardner's death, Mr. John Prentice com- 
menced preaching in Lancaster. He continued to supply the pul- 
pit until February, 1707, when he was invited to become the min- 
ister of the town. The invitation he accepted, and was ordained 
March 29, 1708. On the same da}'^, previous to the ordination, a 
covenant was signed by the member? of the church, general in its 
nature, binding those who professed it, to holy lives, with watch- 
fulness of each other's conduct, acknowledging the equality of the 
churches, and the sufficiency of holy scripture, and refraining from 
the injunction of particular doctrines as necessary to enable one to 
participate in the ordinances. It is reason;>ble to suppose that the 
earlier covenants were not more technical and precise, and that, 
while due regard was paid to Orthodox faith, t christian liUerty was 
regarded as a sacred right. J 

In 1726 and 1727, motions to build a new house of worship 
were negatived. Another attempt for a new building where the 
first meeting house stood, or on School House hill, where the town 
house now stands, was made without success, in 1733, and 1737. 
A motion for one on the west side of the Neck, and another on the 
east side of the river, was negatived in 1734. A new petition in 
1741, for two buildings, one for the accommodation of the mile and 
the south part of the town, and another for the remaining inhabi- 

* This burying field was given by Capt. Thomns Wilder, who died in 
1717. He was the eldest son of Thomas Wilder, the first settler of the name. 
The old burying c;round, was probably separated fortl\at use as early as 1653. 
The Ihinl, was purchased of Rev. Dr. Thayer and Hon. John Sprague, in 
1798. 

t March, 1731 — Town voted to buy Rev. Pres. Samuel W^iliard''s "Body 
of Divinity, to be kept in the meeting house for the town's use, so that any 
jirrson may come there and read therein as often as they shall see cause, and 
said book is not to be carried oui of the meeting house, at any time, except 
by order of the selectmen or the town.'' This divine was son of Major Wil- 
lard beibre named, one of the original purchasers of Concord, and great grand 
father of the late President Willard, of Harvard University. 

|. \ov. 1734 — voted, that any desirous of admission to full communion, 
and declining to make a relation of his or her experiences, may be admitteri 
by making a writtea confession of their faith. Church Records. 



66 HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

tants, met with the same fate. However, in January, 1742, at a 
town meeting called by a magistrate, it was voted, to build two 
houses, according to the petition of 1741, viz. one of them for the 
new precinct near Ridge hill in Woonksechauckset, and the other, 
on School House hill. 

March 8, 1742, the old or first parish formed itself into a pre- 
cinct, and chose officers. The new building in the first parish was 
completed in 174r5.* It contained thirty three pews on the lower 
floor, with many long seats, as was usual at that day. 

The church and town were in great harmony daring the minis- 
try of Mr. Prentice. In 1746, his health began to fail, and, from 
that period to the time of his death, his pulpit was supplied by 
Messrs. Benjamin Stevens, William Lawrence, Cotton Brown, and 
Stephen Frost. t He died much lamented, January 6, 1746, aged 
66, " after a life of much service and faithfulness. "J He is said to 
have possessed great dignity and severity of maniier*, and to have 
been bold, direct, and pointed in his style of preaching. § " God 
gave him the tongue of the learned" said Mr. Hancock, " so he 
knew how to speak a word unto him that was weary; the God of 
the spirits of all flesh fitted him for his work, and taught him how 

* The committee consisted of Joseph Wilder, Samuel Willard, Josiah 
White, Oliver VVilder and William R,ichardson. The parish (granted £1045, 
6*. 8d. old tenor, to build the church ; the actual cost was £863, 3*. Id. 

t Benjamin Stevens, S. T. D. was a native of Charlestown, and minister 
of Kittery, in .Maine. Graduated'Harvard University, 1740. Mr. Lawrence 
Harvard University, 1743. Mr. Brown, Harvard University, 1743, born in 
Haverhill, and minister in Brookline. i\lr. Frost, Harvard University, l739. 
The same who is mentioned ante in note p. He was a member of Mr. Pren- 
tice's church. 

^ Mr. Prentice was twice married. His first wife was Mrs. Mary Gard- 
ner, widow off/is predecessor, 'l^heir sons were irtaunton, Thomas and .John. 
Mary, the eldest daughter, married Rev. .Job Cushinn;, minister of Shrewsbu- 
ry, March, 1727 ; Elizabeth, Mr. Daniel Robbins, of the west parish, and af- 
ter his death, Capt. Curtis, of Worcest'r ; Sarah, Ur. Smith, and afterwards 
Col. Brigham of Southborou!::;h. The second wife was Mrs. Prudence Swan, 
mother of Rev. .Tosiah Swan, before mentioned. She was born in Charles- 
town, and her maiden name was Foster. Prudence, a daughter, married Jo- 
siah Brown, of the west parish, a graduate at Cambridg-e. Relief, married 
Rev. John Rogers, minister of Leominster, i\larch, 1750. Rebecca, married 
Pv,ev. John Mellen, of the west parish. 

^Ile preached a number of occasional sermons, viz. an Election sermon, 
May 2:5. 1735, from 2 Chron. III. 4,5 and part of 6th verses, which was printed. 
A sermon at the opening of the first Court in the County of Worcester, Aug. 
10, 1731, from 2 Chron. XIX. 6, 7. A sermon at the ordination of Rev. Eb- 
enezer Parkman, Oct. 28, 1724, from 2 Cor. XII. 15. A funeral discourse, 
at Marlborough, on occasion of the death of Rev. Robert Breclc, Jan. 1731. 



UISTORY OF LAN'CASTEll. t 

he ought to behave himself in the house of God. They thai knew 
him esteemed him lor his piety, his probity, his peaceableness, and 
gentleness, and tor his commtMidable steadiness in these uncertain 
times. He was a practical, scriptural, profitable preacher. As to 
his secular affairs, with the help of that Prudence,* Cod gave 
him, he managed them with discretion." Mr. Prentice was a na- 
tive of Newton. He graduated at Cambridge in the class of 1700, 
which contains the names of Winthrop,]3radstreet, Hooker, Whiting, 
Robert Breck, &,c. His father was Mr. Thomas Prentice of New- 
ton, who married Mary Staunton. Thomas Prentice, a brave and dis- 
tinguished commander of a corps of cavalry in Philip's war, was a 
relation. Thomas, the iVaher, died Nov. Gth, 1722, aged 93. He 
had been, according to tradition, together with Captain Prentice 
and another relation of the same name, one of Oliver Cromwell's 
Body Guard. By an ancient manuscript, in the possession of Rev. 
Mr. Homer of Newton, it appears that Mr. Prentice (without doubt 
Rev. John Prentice) was admitted to the church in Newton, March 
H, 1708, and taken out the same day. His relation was then, I pre- 
surtie, transferred to the church in Lancaster, over which he was 
oMained Monday, March 29, 1708.t 

On the fourth of .January, 1748, a ^ew days before the death of 
Mr. Prentice, it was voted to settle a colleague "if God should spare 
their minister's life." Thursday the 21st was set apart for a day of 
fasting and prayer, and the neighboring ministers, Messrs. Gardner, 
Secomb, Rogers, Goss. and Melien, were desired to assist on the 
occasion. Feb. 28, 1748, the society united with the church in in- 
viting Mr. Cotton Drown to bo their minister ; and voted to give 
him £2000 old tenor, to enable him to purchase a parsonage, and 
XiCO old tenor for his annual salary. Sir. Brown probably declin- 
ed the offer;]: lor, on the 8th August following, they voted to hear 
510 more candi«lates till they came to a choice, and desired the 
church to select one from those who had already preached. Ac- 
cordingly, on the same day, the church made choice of the Rev. 
Timothy Harrington, with but two dissentisig votes, and the socie- 
ty immediately concurred in the clioice. They offered him JElOOO, 

*" His second wife. Siie died, July, 17G5. 

tFor what relates to the parentaere of Mr. Prentice, I am indebted to 
Rev. Mr. Homer of Newton, and John Mt lien Esq. of Cambridj^'e. 

Mr. Prentice's salary in 1717, was £70: 17!», £85: 1726, £100: 1731, 
£130: 1737, £,'iO, old tenor : the same in 1744,5 and G, '' iu the preseut 
currency.'" 

+ lie was ordained at Brookliiie, Oct. 6, 1748, died, April 13, 1751. 

9 



68 HISTORY OP LANCASTER. 

old tenor, as a settlement, or £2000 for the purchase of a parson- 
age, and the same salary* that was offered to Mr. Brown. Mr. 
Harrington accepted the invitation, and was installed Nov. 16, 
1748. The sermon was preached by Rev. John Hancock, of Lex- 
ington.! Thirteen churches were represented by their " Elders 
and delegates, viz: Mr. Loring's of Sudbury, Mr. Gardner's of 
Stow, Mr. Stone's of Southborough, Mr. Parkman's of Westborough, 
Mr. Secomb's of Harvard, Mr. Goss' of Bolton, Mr. Rogers' of 
Leominster, Mr. Mellen's of the west parish, (Sterling,) Rev. Dr. 
Appleton's of Cambridge, Mr. Hancock's of Lexington, Mr. Wil- 
liams' of Waltham, Mr. Storer's of Watertown, and Mr. Steam's of 
Lunenburg." 

Mr. Harrington had been the minister at Lower Ashuelot or 
Swansey, in New Hampshire. That town was distroyed, April 2, 
1747, and the inhabitants were scattered. Monday, Oct. 4, 1748, 
his church met at Rutland, Mass. and gave their former pastor a dis- 
mission and warm recommendation to the first church in Lancaster. 
The letter was signed by Nathaniel Hammond, Timothy Brown, 
and Jonathan Hammond, and was highly acceptable to the church 
in this town. 

During the ministry of Mr. Harrington, great changes took 
place in the state of society in New England. No period of our 
history is frau2:bt with greater interest and instruction. Ancient 
simplicity was yielding to the alterations, if not the refinements, in 
manners, induced by a widening intercourse with the world, the 
increase of general intelligence, and the number of well educated 
men. The profession of law had acquired weight and intluence, 
and its members were taking the lead in all that related to the po- 
litical existence and improvement of the provinces. An inquisitive 
spirit began to stir in the church, which is still active and busy, 
under a change of the points of discussion. 

I do not find that the introduction of instrumental music as a part 
of public worship, or the change in the mode of singing, gave rise 
to any uneasiness in the parish. J Not so however with the intro- 

* The salary was annually settled by the price of the principal articles 
of life, £480 old tenor, equal to £64 lawful money, or $213 33. For a few 
years the salary was as high as $300. 

t This sermon was printed. The text was from 1. Cor. IX. 19. Mr. 
Hancock was father of Rev. .lohn Hancock of Braintree, and Grandfather of 
Gov. Hancock. 

X Except Mr. Wheelock used to shake his head, when the pitch pipe was 
sounded, and Thomas Holt would leave the house at the sound of the pitch 
pipe, or when " funeral thought" was sungf. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 69 

duction of the " New Version." Many were grieved because of the 
change, and two individuals proceeded further. The version of 
Sternhold and Hopkins,* the first metrical version of the Psalms, in 
English, was never used in this town. This was not in high repute; 
Eliot, Welde, and Richard Mather, in 1639, attempted a translation, 
but their labors were not valued ; and President Dunster, the fol- 
lowing year, was called upon to revise the collection. His im- 
proved version was the one in use in most of the New England 
Churches for many years — and, in Lancaster, till the time of Mr. 
Harrington. Probably about the year 1763, the collection bj'- 
Tate and Brady was introduced. Early in 1665, a complaint was 
made that one of the members of the church, Moses Osgood, 
with his wife, Martha, had been absent from the communion service 
more than a year. On being inquired of by the church, why they 
absented themselves from the Supper, they sent a written reply, in 
which they say that the reason is, " the bringing in of the New 
Version, as we think, not in a prudent and regular way. Also we 
find, in said Version, such words and expressions as are unknown 
by us, so that we cannot sing with the understanding also. The 
composers of the said version, we find, have taken too great a lib- 
erty to themselves, as we think, to depart from the scriptures. 
And as for the hymns taken from the other parts ot the bible, we 
know of no warrent in the bible for them, and shall humbly wait on 
such as are the maintainers of them to produce and demonstrate 
the warrantableness (or them from the word of God. We are 
therefore vvaiting (he removing or in some way or other the satis- 
fying the above said doubts ; for they are a matter of grievance (o 
us, and we think we are wronged in our highest interest, &c." 
Further complaint was made against them, tiiat they had 
declared " the church had broken their covenant with them, 
in bringing in the New Version of the Psalms, which they af- 
firmed to be made for Papists and Arminians^io be full of her- 
esy, and in an unkno-^m tongue.'''' Also, that "Mr. Harrington assert- 
ed at the conference meeting, that he was one half the church, 
and that he would disannul the meeting." 

For this second charge, the oiTenders made satisfaction ; but on 
(he first, the evidence that was adduced to exculpate, being consid- 

*Thomas Sternliolcl, a Court poet, translated 51 psalms. .Tohn Hopkins, a 
clergyman, 58. The other contributors were, principally, William WhyUing-- 
ham, Uean of Durham, and Thomas Norton, a Barrister. Pee C Kills'" .speci- 
men? of the early English Poets, p. IIG. 



76 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 



©red insufficient, and no excuse being ofiered, the church voted aa 
admonition and "suspension." The wife afterwards (1780, May,) 
came forward, made explanations that were deemed satisfactory, 
and was restored. The husband probably continued steadfast in 
adhering to the old version by President Dunster. I do not find that 
he forsook his first love, or that his suspension was broken ofT.* 

Many of the clergy, of Mr. Harrington's time, had departed 
from the standard of faith professed by the churches in general, 
from the first settlement of New England. The prevailing doc- 
trines from the beginning were those of Calvin, and it required 
no ordinary moral courage, seventy years ago, for any one to break 
asunder the skackles of religious dogmas that had encompassed all, 
and come out in the independent and conscientious avowal of a new 
system of doctrine. The people were not prepared for a suddea 
change of the faith which had been handed down from parent to 
child, for many generations, and which had collected veneration in 
its progress and by its long continuance. Most of the clergy, in 
this vicinity, who embraced the tenets of Arminius, soon found 
that the age was not arrived that would tolerate a departure from 
the metaphysical speculations of the old school. They were 
obliged, therefore, as honest men, to avow their sentiments, at 
whatever hazard, and in consequence, to relinquish their pastoral 
relations to their persuasion of the truth. Mr. Harrington howev- 
er, who was of this class of believers, was regarded with singular 
affection by his people, and in that way probably, escaped the fate 
of his brethren.! 

A history of this period in our Ecclesiastical affaris, impartial!}- 
and faithfully written, would be a work of great interest to exhibit 
the spirit of inquiry and speculation, then just starting into exist- 
ence, tracing it from its beginning, and shewing how the excite- 
ment of political discussion that was preparing the way for nation- 
al independence, opened the mind to general inquiry in other sub- 
-jecis, especially to those relating to the true interests of man. 

* He died, March 10, 1776. Rev. Zabdiel Adams of Lunenburg:, in 1771. 
delivered a discourse in Lancaster, " on the nature, pleasures and advantao:es 
of Church Music.'" This was probably about the time of the chang;e introduc- 
ed in the mode of singing', &;c. See pag'e 87, Note. The discourse -was 
printed. Watt's superseded Tate and Brady, and Belknap, Watts in Lan- 
caster. 

+ In justice however, it should be slated, that his conduct at this time 
was not decided and manly. Although fully an Arminian, he displeased 
many, at the time, by the temporising' course he adopted. He was of the 
council assembled to decide upon the difficulties at Leominster, and voted, for 
the dismission of Mr. Rogers, a theologian of the same persuasion. 



HISTORV OF LANXASTEr.. 71 

The tlifiiculties in Bolton resulted in the uismission of Rev. Mr, 
Goss, the minister, by a majority of the church in that place. To 
this cause they seem to have been driven by the course pursued by 
the Ecclesiastical council, which acquitted Mr. Goss of the charges 
brought against him — charges which, it seems, were true — at least 
sufficiently so to disqualify him for the duties of his holy office. 
The Council, besides, passed a censure on those who had dismissed 
Mr. Goss, and attempted to exclude them from partaking of chris- 
tian privileges in other churches. The ground work of the whole 
difficulty was an efl'ort, on the part of the clergy, to assume an ar- 
bitrary and irresponsible power over the laity, which led to a prop- 
er resistance on the part of the latter. In June, 1772, Samuel Ba- 
ker, Ephraim Fairbanks, and Nathaniel Longley, a Committee in 
behalf of the Church in Bolton, sent a letter to the first Church in 
Lancaster, containing a clear and satisfactory defence of their pro- 
ceedings, as " not being a usurped authority, but as being the prac- 
tice of the primitive churches — as being allowed by their own plat- . 
form, — but still, a power they were unwilling to exercise, unless 
reduced to real necessity." They then inquire whether they are 
to be excluded from communion with other churches, and to be 
condemned without being heard. This letter was laid by Mr. Har- 
rington, before his church, and the following is a copy of the pro- 
ceedings. " At a meeting of the first Church in Lancaster, by 
adjournment, on July 21, 1772, voted as follows — Whether this 
church be so far in charity with the brethren of Bolton, wiiose let- 
ter is before them, as to be willing to receive them to communion 
with them in special ordinances occasionally." 

Passed in the affirmative. Which vote was nonconcurred by the 
Pastor as follows : — '^Brethren,! think myself bound in duty to God, 
to the Congregational churches in general, to this church, in par- 
ticular and to my own conscience, to declare, which I now do be- 
fore you, that I cannot concur with this vote. 

" This vote shall be recorded, but my nonconcurrence must be 
recorded with it. And as the brethren from Bolton now see your 
charitable sentiments towards them, I hope they will be so far sat- 
isfied. But as the church act in their favor is not pcrjfcled, i 
hope they will not oifer themselves, to communion with us, till 
their society is in a more regular state." 

Mr. Harrington continued to live in harmony with his peoj>lo, 
during a long and useful ministry : no lasting disturbance injured 
his good influence ; no root of bitterness sprang up between him 



it HISTORY OF LAKCASTSR. 

and Iiis peojile. He is represented as having' possessed respecta- 
ble powers of mind, with great mildness and simplicity of charac- 
ter. Liberal in his feelings, he practised charity in its extended, as 
well as its narrow sense. True piet}' and an habitual exercise of 
the moral and social virtues, rendered him highly useful in his sa- 
cred office, and an interesting and instructive companion in the 
common walks of life. 

In 1787, Mr. Harrington, being quite advanced in life, received 
some aid from the town, in the discharge of his duties. From 
IMarch, 1791, till the following spring, the gentlemen, who, in part, 
supplied the pulpit, were Messrs. Alden Briidlord, H. U. 1786, 
afterwards settled at Wiscasset — now residing in Boston, and late 
Secretary of State ; Thaddeus M. Harris, H. U. 1787, S. T. D. now 
a minister in Dorchester; Daniel C. Saunders, H. U. 1788, Presi- 
dent of Burlington College, now minister in Medfield ; and Rev. Jo- 
se])h Davis. 

In March, 1792, it was voted to settle a colleague with Rev. 
Mr. Harrington, and a committee was appointed to wait upon Mr. 
Harrington, touching his inclination respecting a coiicague, &.C. 
and to supply the desk for twelve weeks.* In July, 1792, "•' voted 
that the town will hear Mr. Thayt^rj a further time. June 3, 1792, 
the town voted unanimously to concur with the church, in giving 
him an invitation to be their minister, with a settlement of £200, 
and a salary of £90, during Mr. Harrington's life time, and £120 
(;^400f) after his decease. The invitation was accepted in a letter 
dated Cambridge, July 11, 1793. The ordination was Oct. 9,1793.§ 
The sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Osgood, of Medford, from 
Acts XX. 27. The other services were as follows, viz : Introduc- 
tory prayer by Rev. Dr. Belknap ; consecrating prayer, by Rev. 
Mr. Whitney ; Charge, by Rev. Mr. Jackson; Right hand of Fel- 
lowship, by Rev. Mr. Emerson ; Concluding prayer, by Rev. Dr. 
Clark. The following were the churches present : Leominster, 

*The other gentlemen who preachefl here before the invitation gfiven to the 
present minister, were Rev. Thomas Gray, D. D. of Roxbury, Rev. lleze- 
kiah Packard, U. D. of Wiscassett, Maine, R.ev. Aaron Green, of Maldt n, 
Rev. Hezekiah Goodrich, of Rutland, Rev. Thomas C. Thatcher, formerly of 
Lynn. 

i H. U. 1789. Tutor, S. T. D. 

tin 1804, $510; 1805, $400; 1811, raised permanently to $525. 

J Messrs. Joeph Wales, Oliver Carter, and Eli Stearns, were thanked by 
the town '^ for their timely and useful exertions in preparing suitable provis- 
ion, &:c. for the ordaining- council, and for the polite manner in which they 
conducted the business of attending: upon them, and it was voted, that their 
freely rendering this Eervicc be recorded in grateful remembrauce of their 
arenerositv.'"' 



HISTORY Of LANCASTER. 7;} 

Rev. Francis Gardner; Lunenburg, Rev. Zabdiel Adams ; Shirley, 
Rev. Pliinehas Whitney ; Harvard, Rev. William Emerson ; Bolton, 
Rev. Phinehas Wriajht;; Berlin, Rev. Reuben Poller, D. D. ; Ster- 
ling, Rev. Reuben Ilolcomb; Worcester, Rev. Aaron Bancroft, D. D.; 
Brookline, Rev. Joseph Jackson; Newburyport, Rev. Thomas 
Gary, Rev. John Andrews, D. D. ; Medlbrd, Rev. David Osgood, 
D. D. ; Cambridge, Rev. Abiel Holms, D. D. ; Boston, First Church, 
Rev. John Clarke, D. D. ; Federal Street, Rev. Jeremy Belknap, 
D. D. ; New North Church, Rev. John Eliot, D. D. 

Mr. Harrington, preached but little during the last five years of 
his life. After being in an infirm state of health Ibr some time, 
he died, December 10, 1795, in the 80th year of his age. A ser- 
mon was preached by his colleague and successor, at the funeral. 
Dec. 23, from 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8, and was afterwards printed.*' 

Mr. Harrington was born in Waltham, Feb. 10, 1716, and grad- 
uated. Harvard Universit}', 1737, in a distinguished class. He was 
first ordained, as we have already seen, at Swansey, in New Hamp- 
shire. After leaving Swansey, he preached in this town and other 
places as a candidate, till his settlement here, in Nov. 1618. 

The building that had been used as a house for public worship 
from 1713,beingold, and inconvenient, the town voted, Dec. 4, 1815, 
to erect a new building of brick. A tarm a little to the northeast 
of the old house was purchased of Benjamin Lee, Esq. by a num- 
ber of individuals, and two acres were conveyed hy them to the 
town for the sum of j^633 33, as apprised by Messrs. James Wilder, 
Moses Thomas and Thomas H. Blood, of Sterling. Messrs. Eli 
Stearns, Jacob Fisher, and William Cleaveland, were chosen a 
* Further, as to his cliaracter, see the above sermon, also two others from 
the same hand, printed Fel). 1817. Mr. Harrington's printed discourses, be- 
sides his Century Sermon, May :28, 17.53, I'salm CXI X. 1, 2, were, " Pre- 
vailing wickedness, and distressing; judgments, ill-boding sympto.Tis on a stu- 
pid people." llosea, vii. 9. Also, one at Princeton, Dec. 23, 1759, from 1 Cor. 
vii. 15. 

Mr. Harrington was twice married. His first wife was Anna Harrington, 
of Lexington, a cousin, born June 2, 17IG, and died, May 19, 1778. Their 
children wcra Henrietta, born at Lexington, 171 1, and married John Locke, 
of Templeton, brother to President Locke, of the University ; Arethusa 
born at Lexington, 1747. Eusebia, born at [-.ancaster, May 1751 — married 
Paul llichardson, sometime of this place ; afterwards of Winchester, N. II. 
Timothy, born Sept. 1753. H. U. 177G, a physician in Chelmsford, died, Feb. 
23, 1804. His only son, Ilufus, died in lioston, eighteen or nineteen years 
since. Uea. Thomas Harrington, born Nov. 1755, now living in Heath. An- 
na, born July, 1758, married Dr. Bridge, a physician in Petersham, son of 
Rev. Mr. Bridge of Framingham. After his death, she was married to Josh- 
ua Fisher, M. 1). M. M. S. &:c. of Beverly. They are both living. Mr. 
Harrington had other children who died in infancy. His second wife wa* 
widow of llev. Mr, Bridge, of Framingham. 



74 HISTOUY OF LANCASTER. 

building committee. In January, 1816, it was voted, that the new 
church should contain not more than 4,400, nor less than 4,200 
square feet, and that there should be a porch and portico, of such 
size as the committee should approve. 

After the spot tor tlie new church was selected, difficulties oc- 
curred in deciding whether the front of the building should be to- 
wards the west, or south. After much discussion, and various votes 
on the subject, at a number of different meetings, the parties 
agreed to abide by the decision of certain gentlemen from other 
towns mutually selected for the purpose. 

The opinion of these gentlemen was in favor of a south entrance, 
and their decision being tmal, was acquiesced in after a short time. 
The corner stone was laid July 9, 1816. A silver plate with this 
inscription was deposited beneath—" Fourth house built in Lancas- 
ter for the worship of God. Corner stone laid, July 9, 1816. May 
God make oar ways prosperous, and give us good success. Rev. 
Nathaniel Thayer, pastor of our Church." A previous address 
was made by the pastor : C7th psalm, Belknap's collection, was 
sung, and prayer by the pastor concluded the exercises. The build- 
ing was dedicated on the first day of January, A. D. 1317. Intro- 
ductory prayer by Rev. Mr. Capen, of Sterling, •' who also read 
the prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple." Dedica- 
tory pra3'cr, by Rev. Dr. Bancroft, of Worcester. Sermon, by the 
pastor of the Society, from Ephesians, ii. 19, 20, 21, 22. Conclud- 
ing pra\'er, by Rev. Mr. Allen, of Bolton. 

From a description of the building published at the time, I 
extract the following : — 

The design of the edifice was by Charles Bulfinch, Esq.* of Bos- 
ton. The body of the building is 74 by C6 feet, with a porch, por- 
tico, tower and cupola. The portico is 4C by 17 feet, of square 
brick columns, arched with pilasters, entablature, and pediment of 
the Doric order; the vestibule, or porch, is 48 by 19 feet and 
contains the gallery stairs ; the tower is 21 feet square ; the cu- 
pola is circular, and of singular beauty ; — it is surrounded with a 
colonade of 12 fluted pillars, with entablature, and cornice, of the 
Ionic order; above which is an Attic encircled with a festoon dra- 
pery, the whole surmounted by a dome, balls, and vane. The 
height from the ground is about 120 feet. Inside, the front of the 
gallery is of ballustrade work, and is supported by ten fluted pillars 
of the Doric order, and has a clock in front, presented by a gentle- 

* Now National .Architect at Wajhina-ton. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. tO 

man o^ the socinly.* The pulpit rests on eight fluted column?, and 
four pilasters of the Ionic order : the upper section is supported by 
six Corinfiiian columns also fiuted. and is lighted by a circular head- 
ed window, ornamented with double pilasters fluted ; entablature 
and cornice of the Corinthian order; this is decorated with a cur- 
tain and drapery irom a Parisian model, which, with the materials, 
were presented liy a friend;! they are of rich green figured satin. A 
handsome Pulpit Bible was presented also by a friend, J imd a bell, 
weighing 1300 lbs. was given by gentlemen of the town. 

The following is a complete list of baptisms and admissions to 
full communion from March 29, 1708, to the present time. 

Baptisms during Rev. Mr. Prentice's ministry, 1593 

From his death, .Jan. 1748, to settlement of Rev. Mr. ) c,o 

Harrington, Nov. 16, 1748. J 

During Rev^. Mr. Harrington's ministry, 1531 

From the ordination of Rev. Dr. Thayer, to the pre- ) p^^ 

sent time, ) 

Total, l024 

Admissions during Rev. Mr. Prentice's ministry, 331 

"• " Rev. Mr. Harrington's, " 478 

" " Rev. Dr. Thayer's " 307 

Total, 1116 

The town of Lancaster has ever enjoyed singular peace and 
harmony in its religious affairs. No Ecclesiastical council, so of- 
ten the cause of bitterness at the present day, has ever been held 
within our limits, except for the purpose of assisting at ordinations. 
Within the present bounds of the town, there is, and never has 
been but one regular and incorporated religious society, and that 
of the Congregational denomination. 

Individuals here, as well as in other toAvns, make use of the fa- 
cilities which the law affords them and join themselves to other 
persuasions. In man}' instances, it is not to be doubted, this is done 
from conscientious motives — in others, a certificate proves a cheap 
and expeditious riddance of the expense of supporting the institu- 
tions of our holy faith, and a general indifference to their prosper- 
ity may be concealed under the appearance of scruples of con- 
science. 

* Jacob Fisher, Esq. 
t S. V. S. Wilder, Esq. 
iMr. Abel Wrifford. 

10 



7^ HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

MEMOIR OF JUDGE SPRAGUE. 

The Hon. John Sprague was a citizen of Lancnsier from Sept. 
1, 1770, to the 21st of Sept. 1800, the time of his death. The 
town was much indebted to him for the correctness of their munici- 
pal proceedings, and the unanimity with which their affairs were 
conducted. He was born at Rochester, in the county of Plymouth, 
then Province of the Massachusetts Bay, on the 21st of June A. D. 
1740, O. S. corresponding to the 2d of July, N. S. He was the 
son of Noah Sprague, Esq. by Sarah, his wife, who was a lineal de- 
scendant of Elizabeth Penn, the sister of Sir William Penn, who was 
an Admiral under Cromwell, and the father of William Penn, the 
proprietor of Pennsylvania ; her husband was William Hammond, 
of London. Benjamin Hammond, their son, removed from London to 
Sandwich, in the colony of Plymouth, married there in 1650, and 
thence removed to Rochester. John Hammond the second son by 
this marriage, married Mary Arnold, daughter of the Rev. Samuel 
Arnold, the tirst minister of Rochester, and Sarah, a daughter, by 
this marriage was Mr. Sprague's mother. Judge Sprague began to 
prepare lor College in Dec. 1760, and entered therein at Cambridge 
at the end of the summer vacation after, viz. A. D. 1761. Having 
pursued his collegiate studies with reputation, he graduated in 1765, 
and soon after took charge of the grammar school in Roxbury ; 
commenced the study of physic there, and pursued it under the in- 
struction of the late Doct. Thomas Williams for a short time, viz. 
until May, 1766. In that month he removed to Worcester, aban- 
doned the study of physic, and entered as a clerk in the office of 
Col. James Putnam, an eminent Barrister at Law, and kept a pri- 
vate grammar school there. At the May term of the Court of 
Common Pleas, 1768, he was admitted an Attorney of that Court, 
removed from thence to Rhode Island, and in the following Sept. 
was admitted an Attorney in the Superior Court in the county of 
Providence, colony of Rhode Island, &c. and opened his office in 
Newport; there he remained without the prospect of much busi- 
ness, in the diligent pursuit of his professional studies, until May, 
1769, when he removed to Keene, in the county of Cheshire, then 
province of New Hampshire, ivhere he pursued the practice of 
Law until Sept. 1, 1770, made himself acquainted with the people, 
and the business of the Courts there, and by his talents, industry 
and fidelity, acquired a reputation which long afterward afforded 
him extensive professional employment in the interior counties of 
that province. Inclined to take up his permanent abode in his na- 



HrSTORY OF LANCASTER. 77 

live province, he then removed front) Keene (o Lancaster, in the 
county of Worcester, and opened an office in partnership with Abel 
Willard, Esq. a respectable Counsellor at Law, for the term of ten 
years, beginning the 21st of the same month. This partnership was 
interrupted by the war with Great Britain. Mr. Willard adhering 
to the King, left Lancaster in March, 1775, and never returned. 
In April, 1772, he was admitted an Attorney of the Superior Court 
at Worcester. In Dec. 1772, he married Catherine Foster, of 
Charlestown, the twelfth child and ninth daughter of Richard Fos- 
ter, Esq. SheritTof Middlesex; by this marriage, he had one son 
and two daughters. He was occupied in extensive professional 
employment, till arms silenced the laws ; (hen he shared in the 
burdens and privations common to his neighbors and fellovv citizens 
in the eventful period of the revolution. Having purchased a small 
farm in the centre of the town, he labored upon it as a farmer; dis- 
mantled himself of his linea and ruffles and other appropriate ha- 
biliments, and assumed the garments of labor, which were then the 
checkered shirt and trowsers. He was resorted to for counsel in 
all cases of difficulty which occurred, and toward the close of the 
revolution, when our government was formed, and business revived, 
he was one of the principal counsellors and advocates in our Courts 
of Justice. His legal learning was so well combined with and aid- 
ed by common sense, and a sound discretion, that he was consider- 
ed one of the most safe, discerning and upright counsellors in (he 
Commonwealth. As an advocate, he was not the most eloquent, but 
such was the fairness of his statements and force of his arguments, 
that conviction seemed their natural result. He was cotemporary 
with the two Strongs, the late Governor, and the late Judge, both 
of the county of Hampshire, and the late Hon. Levi Lincoln, of 
Worcester, and divided with (hem the multiplied business of advo- 
c.iting causes and collecting deb(s in the counties of Hampshire, 
Worcester and Middlesex, and in the counties of Hillsborough and 
Cheshire, in New Hampshire. In May, 1732, he was elected a 
representative of the town to the General Court, and in the Janu- 
ary session following, a vacancy in the Senate occurring, being a 
candidate, voted for by the people, was elected by the Legislature 
to fill that vacancy, and was again elected to the Senate by the 
people in 1783. In February, 1783, he was first commissioned a 
Justice of the Peace and quorum, for the county of Worcester. So 
high was he held in the estimation of the Judges of the Supreme 
Judicial Court, as a Lawyer, that at the February term of that 



"78 HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 

Court in Suffolk, 1784, he was made a Barrister at Law, and was 
called to that distinction by the first writ that issued lor Barrister 
in the Commonwealth ; the mode of admission preceding the rev- 
olution having been without writ. He was to have been admitted 
before the revolution, but the tumults in the country interrupted 
the Courts. He was elected to represent the town in the General 
Court in 1784 and 1785. 

In 178G, Mr. Sprague was selected by the Government as the 
law adviser of Maj. Gen. Lincoln, to attend him in his expedition 
against Daniel Shays and his adherents, who had excited a rebel- 
lion in the Commonwealth. 

May 5, 1787, he was bereaved of his wife, and in the latter 
part of the same year, he married Mary Iver?, the widow of Thom- 
as Ivers, Esq. late Treasurer of the Commonwealth, and eldest 
child of Mr. John Cutler and Mary, his wi!e, of Boston, who surviv- 
ed him. In 1788, he was elected a member of the convention for 
ratifying the Constitution of the United Slates. The town was op- 
posed to the ratification, and by a committee of seven gave him in- 
structions to vote against it. Having confidence, however, in the 
intelligence and rectitude of their delegate, they so qualified the 
instructions as to leave him to vote as he should think proper. He 
was one of seven out of fifty members from the county, who voted 
in the affirmative. In the winter of the same year, he was appoint- 
ed Sheriff of the county of Worcester, in the place of William 
Greenleaf, Esq. who was removed from that office. He was punc- 
tual and faithful in the performance of his official duties, reduced 
the former irregularities in the administration of the office to or- 
der and system, and resigned it in 1792. 

He returned to the practice of law, and continued in it until 
1798. He represented the town in the General Court from the year 
1795to 1799 inclusive. In 1798, he wasappointedChief Justice of the 
Court of Common Pleas for the County of Worcester. It was anew and 
valuable acquisition to have a learned lawyer at the head of the Judi- 
cial administration of the County, whose integrity and talents fitted 
him for the station, and whose justice and impartiality would ensure 
the confidence of all engaged in the business of the Court. In this of- 
fice he continued until his death. His historical and legal knowl- 
edge, the accuracy of his mind, and its adaptation in the choice of 
language to express it on all subjects, rendered him a very useful 
member of the legislature, and he was looked to as a safe advi?er 
and guide Iv the political and local concerns of the Comreonwealth. 



HISTORY OF LANCASTER. 79 

He wa« a lover of peace, anJ possessed a happy talent at reconcil- 
ing jarring interests and harmonizing discordant feelings. Such 
were his mental qualities, so strong his sense of justice and honour- 
able dealing, that he was selected, before he was on the bench, a 
commissioner or referee to adjust the numerous controversies 
which prevailed to an alarming degree in the then District of 
Maine, between those who, vvithout title, had settled on the lands 
of the Commonwealth, of the Waldo Patent and Plymouth Company 
on the one part, and the lawful proprietors of them on the other. By 
his co-operating agency, together with the enactments thereon by 
the legislature, such a settlement of the contending claims was ef- 
fected as restored peace and contentment to the parties. 

In the course of his professional career, many young gentlemen 
of liberal education, entered his office as students in law, and de- 
rived from him the requisite instruction. Of the distinguished men 
now living who were his pupils, are the Honorable Edward H. 
Robbins, late Lieut. Governor of the Commonwealth, now Judge of 
Probate for the county of Norfolk. — The Honorable Nathaniel 
Paine, Judge of Probate for the County of Worcester. — The Hon- 
orable Artemas Ward, Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas 
for the Commonwealth oi Massachusetts, — and JohnM. Forbes, Esq. 
now Charge d' Affairs, at Buenos Ay res. 

In his domestic relations he was faithful and affectionate ; a 
good neighbor, unostentatious in his professions of friendship, but 
mani tested his sincerity by kindness and beneliccnce and untiring 
efforts to do good. He was a lover of order, and ready at all times 
to promote the interest and honor of the town. His charities, hos- 
pitality and benevolence are by many still remembered. The 
writer of this memoir, who was his neighbor, and at his desire by 
his bedside the last twenty four hours of his life, witnessed his calm- 
ness and resignation at the approach of death, and his faith in Him 
who giveth the victory. 

His tomb stone, it is hoped, justly repeats the benediction of 
the Saviour, — " Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be 
called the chiklren of God." 



APPBNl^ZX. 



I,IST OFREPRKSENTATIVES TO THE GENERAt, COURT, FR05I 
THE FIRST ON RECORD, TO THE PRESENT TIME. 

Jabez Fairbanks, 
Jabez Fairbanks, 
Ebenezer Wilder, 
Samuel Willard, 
William Richardson, 
Samuel Wiliard, 
Ephraim Wilder, 
William Richardson, 
Joseph Wilder, Jr. 
Joseph W'ilder, Jr. 
William Richardson, 
William Richardson, 
Joseph W^ilder, Jr. 
Joseph Wilder, Jr. 
Joseph W'"ilder, Jr. 
William Richardson, 
David Wilder, 
William Richardson, 
David Wilder, 
William Richardson, 
William Richardson, 
William Richardson, 
W'illiam Richardson, 
David W^iider, 
David Wilder, 
David W'ilder, 
David Wilder, 
Asa Whitcomb, 
David Wilder, 
Asa W'hitcomb, 
Asa Whitcomb, 
Asa W'hitcomb, 
Asa W^hitcomb, 
Asa Whitcomb, 
Asa Whitcomb, 
Asa Whitcomb, 
Ebenezer Allen, 



1671 


Thomas Eeattle, 


1737 


1672 


Thomas Beattle, 


1738 


1673 


(Ralph ?) Houghton, 


1739 


1689 


Ralph Houghton, 


1740 


1693 


John Houghton, 


1741 


1697 


John Houghton, 


1742 


1705 


John Houghton, 


1744 


1706 


John Houghton, 


1745 


1707 


Thomas Sawyer, 


1746 


1708 


John Houghton, 


1747 


7710 


Josiah Whitcomb, 


1748 


17U 


John Houghton, 


1749 


1712 


John Houghton, 


1751 


1714 


Jabez Fairbanks, 


1752 


1715 


John Houghton, 


1753 


1716 


John Houghton, 


1754 


1717 


John Houghton, 


1755 


1718 


John Houghton, 


1756 


1719 


John Houghton, 


1757 


1720 


Joseph Wilder, 


1758 


1721 j 


1 John Houghton, 
[Jabez Fairbanks, 


1759 
1760 


1722 


Jabez Fairbanks, 


1761 


1723 


Jabez Fairbanks, 


1762 


1724 


John Houghton, 


1763 


1725 


Joseph Wilder, 


1764 


1726 


Joseph Wilder, 


1765 


1727 


Samuel W'illard, 


1766 


1728 


Josiah White, 


1767 


2729 


Josiah White, 


1768 


1730 


Josiah White, 


1769 


1731 


Josiah White. 


1770 


1732 


James Wilder, 


1771 


1733 


James Keyes, 


1772 


1734 


Ephraim W'ilder, 


1773 


1735 


Ephraim W^ilder, 


1774 


1736 


Ephraim Wilder, 


1775 



APPEI^iX- 



81 



1775 Hezeldah Gates, 

1776 William Dunsmoor, 

1777 Williiun Dunsmoor, 



,__q \ William Dunsmoor, 
*^^^ J Samuel Thurston, 
1779 Joseph Reed. 



1700 
1781 
1782 

1783 
1784 
1785 
1786 
1787 
1788 
1789 
1790 
1791 
1792 
1793 
1794 
1795 
1796 
1797 
1798 

1799 
1800 
1801 
1802 
1803 
1804 
1805 

1806 



UNDEPx THE rBESENT CONSTITUTION. 



William Putnam, 
William Dunsmoor, 
John Sprague, 
John Sprague, 
John Sprague, 
John Sprague, 
Ephraim Carter, Jr. 
Michael Newhall, 
Michael Newhall, 
Michael Newhall, 
Ephruim Carter, 
Ephraim Carter, Jr. 
Ephraim Carter, Jr. 
John Whiting, 
John Sprague, 
John Sprague, 
John Sprague, 
John Sprague, 
John Sprague, 
John Sprague, 
Samuel Ward, 
Samuel Ward, 
William Stedman, 
Jonathan Wilder, 
Jonathan Wilder, 
Jonathan Wilder, 

i Jonathan Wilder, 

( Eli Stearns, 



1807 
1808 

1809 



Eli Stearns, 
Eli Stearns, 



) Jonas Lane, 

i Eli Stearns, 
} Jonas Lane, 



jgjQ^ Eli Stearns, 
) Jonas Lane, 



1811 
1812 
1813 
1814 
1815 
1816 
1817 

1818 

1819 
1821 
1823 
1826 



) Jonas Lane, 
i Jacob Fisher, 
) Jonas Lane, 
) Jacob Fisher, 
) Jacob Fisher, 
) William Cleaveland, 
^ William Cleaveland, 
) John Thurston, 
) William Cleaveland, 
i John Thurston, 
) John Thurston, 
^ Edward Goodwin, 
) John Thurston, 
) Benjamin WymaOj 
) John Thurston, 
) Solomon Carter, 

Benjamin Wyman, 

Jacob Fsher, 

Jacob Fisher, 

John Thurston. 



Where any year is omitted the town was not represented 
Beattle was afterwards one of the deputies from Concord. I do not 
know that he ever lived here. Thomas Sawyer was the one who 
was taken captive in 1705. Col. Asa Whitcomb, the revolutionary 
patriot who represented the town many years in the Legislature, is 
particularly mentioned in Mr. Goodwin's history of Sterling. 

October, 1774, William Dunsmoor was chosen to represent the 
town in the Provincial Convention at Concord. 

Dunsmoor and Asa Wliitcomb were delegates to the PrGvinciai 
Congress at Cambridge, February 1, 1775. 



82 APPENDIX. 

Joseph Reed and Ebenezer Allen, delegates to tlie State Con- 
vention in Concord, July 14, 1779, to the County Convention at 
Worcester on the second Tuesday of Ausfust, 1779, and to attend at 
Concord tirst Wednesday in October, 1779. 

Vviiiiam Dunsmoor, Ephraim Wilder and William Putnam, dele- 
gates to the Convention in Cambridge. September, 1779. This was 
tl) ^ Conveniion ihat formed our present Constitutiop of State Gov- 
ernment. 

Timothy Whitin* :ind Ephraim Carter, delegates to the County 
Convention at Worc^^ter, A[)ril, 1782. 

Ebenezer Allen, delegate to tb • County Convention at Leices- 
ter, Auajust 1786. 

John Sprague, delegate to \^ "onvention for ratifying the Fed- 
eral Constitution. It is wor.iy c; remark that out of the whole 
County of Worcester on the (.: iesf' ij for adopting the Constitution, 
there were fortv three nays arJ bat seven yeas. The latter were 
Messrs. Sprague of this town, Seth Newton of Southborough, Sam- 
uel Baker of Bolton, David Wilder of Leominister, Matthew Patrick 
of Western, Josiah Goddard of Athol, and Ephraim Wilder of Ster- 
ling. 

John Maynard, Jonathan Wilder, and William Cleveland, dele- 
gates to the County Convention at Worcester, August, 1812. 

Jacob Fisher and Davis Whitman, delegates to the Convention 
in Boston, November, 1820, for revising the Constitution of the 
State. 

PUBLfC OFFICERS. 

County TreasMrer, Jonathan Houghton, 17.31 to 1733. 

Judge of Court of Common Pleas and Chief Justice^ Joseph Wil- 
der, 1731 to 1757. 

Judge Court of Common Pleas, Samuel Willard, 1743 to 1753. 
Joseph Wilder, son of tirst Judge Joseph Wilder, 1762 to 1773. 
John Sprague, June 28, 1798, Chief Justice, July 31, 1798 to 1800. 

Clerk of the Courts, William Stedman, 1810 to 1811. 1812 to 
1816. 

Sheriff, William Greenleaf, 1778 to 1788. John Sprague, 1788 
to 1792. 

Judge of Probate, Joseph W^ilder, 1739 to 1757. 

Assistant Justices of the Court of Sessions, John Whiting, March I, 
1808 to April 20, 1809. Timothy Whiting, November 14, 1811. 

Senators, John Sprague, 1786 to 1786. Moses Smith, 1814 to 
1816. 



APPENDl*. 83 

Representatives to Congress. William Stedman, 1803 to 1810. 

Justices of the Peace. I have no means of being accurate prior 
to 1788. Soon after the settlement of the town, Major Willard, 
who resided here for a short time, was a magistrate by virtue of 
his office, as one of the Court of Assistants.. After the town was 
rebuilt, came John Houghton, an(l,'probably, he was the only mag- 
istrate for some years. Then followed Judge Joseph Wilder, fath- 
er and son. Col. Oliver Wilder, Col. Samuel Willard, father and 
son, Col. Abijah Willard, and Abel Willard, William Richardson, 
Joseph Reed, — — Osgood, &.c. After the peace, William Duns- 
nroor, and John Sprague. 

Since 1788, they are as follows,* viz: 
Appointed 
March 14, 1788, Josiah Wilder. 
Jan. 23, 1789, Israel Atherton. 

Oct. 14, 1789, Timothy Whiting jr. quorum, Oct. 15, 1807. 
Sept. 18, 1790, IV ill in in Stedmaj}, quorum, Jan. 21, 1801. 
June 24, 1799, Samuel Ward, quorum, Jan. 28, 1806. 
Feb. 1, 1803, Josiah Flagg. 
June 14, 1803, Benjamin Wijman. 
May 26, 1806, Joseph Wales. 
May 13, 1808, Merrick Rice. 

Oct. 18, 1809, Moses Smith, jr. quorum, July 3, 1816. 
Dec. 17, 1811, Paul Willard. ; 
June 16, 1812, Jacob Fisher. 
Jan. 20, 1814, Ebenezer Torrey. 
Dec. 3, 1816, Edward Goodwin. 
June 9, 1821, John Stuart. 
Jan. 24, 1822, Jonas Lane. 
Aug. 26, 1823, Levi Lewis. 
Jan. 7, 1825, Joseph Willard. 
" " William Willard. 

Those in Italics are now in commission. 

ATTORNIES AND COUNCEILOKS AT LAW. 
Admitted to practice, 

Worcester C. C. P. Nov. Term, 1755, Abel Willard, to 1775.— 
Removed. 

Worcester, C. C. P. March Term, 1768, John Sprague, 1770 
to 1800.— Died. 

Admitted in Worcester, Levi Willard, about the year 1786 — Died. 
■ This list was furnished by Edward D. Bangs, Esq, Secretary ef State. 
11 



84 APPENDIX. 

Essex, Sept. Term, C. C. P. 1787, William Stedman, to 1810 and 
from 1821. 

Worcester, March Term, 1789, Merrick Rice to 1815.— Re- 
moved to Harvard — Died. 

Worcester, Dec. Term, 1802, Moses Smith to 1825. — Relin- 
quished the practice. 

Worcester, March Term, 1803, Samuel John Spragu^e to 1805 — 
Died. 

In Middlesex, John Stuart, here from 1821 to 1822. — Removed 
to Boston. 

Worcester, Sept. Term, C. C. P. 1811, John Davis, jr. to 1821.— 
Removed to Charlton. 

Middlesex, Dec. Term, C. C. P. \8\9, Joseph Willard from 1821, 
July ; at Waltham from March 1820, to July 1821. 

Middlesex, June Term, C. C. P. 1824, Solon Whking, Attorney 
at Law. 

Those in Italicks are now in practice in this town. Abel Willard, son 
of Col. Samuel Willard, who was representative of the town some years, was 
held in great esteem, and was the instrument of healing many differences 
without litigation. He went to London in 1775, earlier than was stated in a 
former note, and died there before the termination of the war. Samuel J. 
Sprague, Harvard University, 1799, was son of Judge Sprague, Harvard Uni- 
versity, 1765, A, A, S. died Sept. 10, 1805, of an injury received by a fall. 
Levi Willard, Harvard University, 1775, born 1756. After leaving college 
he resided for some time in England, on his return he studied law with Judge 
Sprague. He opened an office in Lancaster, and practised there for a short 
time in 1786, and till his death. William Stedman, Harvard University, 
1704. Merrick Rice, Harvard University, 1785. Joseph Willard, Harvard 
University, 1816, L. L. B, Solon Whiting, son of the late General John 
Whiting. 

PHYSICIAXS. 

Daniel Greenleaf, died in Bolton. 

John Dunsmoor, died Dec. 7, 1747, aged 45. 

Staunton Prentice, died Dec. 1, 1769, aged 58. 

Phineas Phelps, died Aug. 12, 1770, aged 37. 

William Dunsmoor, died May 26, 1784, aged 50. 

Israel Atherton, Harvard University, 1662, M. M. S. Soc. died 
Ju-ly, 1822, aged 82. 

Josiah Wilder, Y. C. died Dec. 20, 1788, aged 45. 

James Carter, died 1817. 

Samuel Manning, Harvard University, 1797, M. D. M.M. S. Soc. 
moved to Cambridge in 1821, died 1822. 



APPENPIX. So 

Nathaniel Pcabody, M. D. Dart. M. M. S, Soc. 1821 to 1822. 

Calvin Carter, Licentiate. 

George Baker, Harvard University, 1816, M. D. M. M. S. Soc. 

Right Curuniings, Licentiate, 

Tlie three last are now in practice here. Greenicaf from New- 
bury, I find first mentioned in 1734, and as late as 1760. John 
Dunsmoor. was probably born in Ireland. " Old father Dunsmoor," 
probably John's father, a member of the Church in Ireland, was 
admitted to communion in Rev. Mr. Prentice's Church, Aug. 21, 1740. 
Saunton Prentice was the eldest son of Fiev. Mr. Prentice. Wil- 
liam Dunsmoor was son of John. Israel Atherton, was a descend- 
ant of James Atherton, who came to Lancaster March 15,1053. 
James had a son James born 13 May, 1654, Joshua born 13 May, 
1656. Joshua was father of Col. Peter, born 12 April, 1705, died 
June 13, 1764. Peter was fiither of Hon. Joshua Atherton, born 
20 June, 1737, and Dr. Israel, born Nov. 20, 1741. Josiah Wil- 
der was son of Col. James Wilder. James Carter was son of 
Capt. James Carter, of this town. Samuel Manning was from Cam- 
bridge. Calvin Carter is son of Dr. James. George Baker is a 
native of Dedham, and Right Cummings, of Lunenburg. 

Before the first Dunsmoor, and Greenleaf, the ^j-liest of the 
Faculty in this town, was a female, " Doctress VVtfircomb." The 
" Doctress" was here, probably, as early as A. D. 1700. She stud- 
ied the profession with the Indians, with whom she was at one time 
a captive, and acquired her knowledge of simples from them. She 
was quite distinguished in this neighborhood as one of the Faculty. 
Before her time, there was no physician nearer than Concord. 

GRADUATES AT DIFFERENT COLLEGES. 
Harvard University. 

1733* Josiah Swan, born 1701, minister of Dunstable, as before 
mentioned. 

1752* Abel Willard, born Jan. 12, 1732. 

1755* Samuel Locke, S. T. D. born Nov. 23, 1732, son of Sam- 
uel Locke of this town, minister of Sherburn, and President of Har- 
vard University, 1770 to 1773, died in Sherburne of apoplexy. 

1766 Peter Green, M. M. S. Soc. hon. born Oct. 1, 1745, son of 
the late Peter Green of this town. See ante note. 

1770 John Mellen, Tutor, A. A. and S. H. S. born July 8, 1752. 

1775* Levi Willard, born Aug. 13, 1756. 

1776* Timothy Harrington, born Sept. 17. 1753. A physician 
in Chelmsford, as before mentioned. 



86 



APPENDIX. 



1777* Joseph Kilburn, born Nov. 3, 1755 or 6. 

1781* Isaac Bailey, born Feb. 24, 1753. 

1798* Artemas Sawyer, born Nov. 2, 1777. 

1799* Samuel John Spragne, born 1780. 

1817 Sewell Carter, merchant in Lancaster. 

1817* Moses K. Emerson, a physician, died in Virginia, 1825. 

1817 Paul Wi)!ard, Counsellor at Law, Charlestown. 

1821 Henry Lane, M. D. a physician in Boston. 

1822 Samuel Manning studied law. He now risides in Mexico. 
" Ebenezer Torry, Attorney at law in Fitchburg. 

1823 Levi Fletcher, Chaplain U. S. Frigate Macedonian. 

1824 Christopher T. Thayer, Theological student at Cambridge. 

1825 Frederick Wilder, died at Northampton, "Multis ille bonis 
flebilis occidit," Feb. 1826. 

1826 Stephen M. Weld. 

Messrs. Mellen, Kilburn and Bailey, are of the " Chocksett lit- 
erati." See Vol. 1. Worcester Magazine, 379, 380. 

Dr. Josiah Wilder and Israel Houghton, Graduated at Yale Col- 
lege about ten years before the revolution. I have not the cata- 
logue by me to fix the year. 

Jacob Willard graduated at Brown University, IgflG i William 
White, do. d^i^J^Theological student^ at Cambridge. 

Abel Willard, son of Joshua W. of Petersham, entered Harvard 
University, 1772, left in 1775 and went to England with his uncle 
Abel Willard, Esq. of this town. Died in Canada. 

Nathan Osgood entered Harvard University, 1782 and left. 

Samuel Ward " " 1784, " 

Jeffery Amherst Atherton, " 1791, died 1793. 

Abel Willard Atherton, " 1795, and left. 

Richard Cleveland and Henry Russel Cleveland are now in the 
Senior Class at the University. 

NOTE ON THE WILDERS. 

The tradition of the family is, that Thomas Wilder the first of 
the name in this country, came from Lancaster in England ; that he 
settled in Hingham, and had four sons, that one son remained in 
Hingham, from whom are descended all of the name of Wilder, 
in that town and vicinity. 1 find that Thomas Wilder was made 
freeman, 2d June, 1641, and that he was of Charlestown in 1642. 
One named Edward look the freeman's oath, 29th May, 1644, and 
was afterwards of Hingham, (2 Mass. Hist. Col. iv. 221) but wheth- 
er, or how, related to Thomas I do not know. 



APPENDIX. 87 

Thomas moved to Lancaster, July 1, 1659, was one ollhe se- 
lectmen, and died October 23, 1667. He left three sods in Lan- 
caster, viz. Thomas, John and Nathaniel, from whom are derived 
all of the name of Wilder, in this town. Thomas, the eldest son, 
died August, 1717, aged 76, had Col James and Joseph. From 
James who married Rev. Mr. Gardner''s sister, came 2d Colonel 
James of Lancaster, and Gardner, in Leominster. From the last 
Colonel James, came James, Dr. Josiah, and Asaph, all of whose 
families are extinct. Gardner has many descendants now in Leom- 
inster. 

Joseph, the son of Thomas above mentioned, married Rev. Mr. 
Gardner's sister; he was a distinguished man in town, and posses- 
sed great inflHence. He was an active magistrate ; for many years 
he represented the town in the Legislature, and was Judge and 
Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, from 1731 to 1757, 
and Judge of Probate from 1739 to 1757. He died I\Iarch 29, 
1757, aged 74. His sons were Thomas of Leominster, Andrew, 
Judge Joseph, and Colonel Caleb. Joseph was Judge of the Court 
of Common Pleas, from 1762, to 1773, representative of the town 
in the Legislature, and died, April 20, 1773, aged 65. He and Col. 
Caleb were the first in America, who established pot and pearl- 
ash works. Caleb died, June 19, 1776, aged>^5&. Thomas, last 
named, had three sons, Hon. Abel Wilder of Winchendon, of the 
Senate, from 1786 to 1792: Thomas of Leominster, and Joseph 
ol Winchendon. Caleb's sons were Samuel and Caleb of Ashburn- 
ham, Nahum and Levi. Samuel had a large family of sons. Caleb 
had two sons, one was Dr. W'ilder of Templeton. Levi, who died 
Jan. 5, 1793, was father of the present Sampson V. S. Wilder of 
Bolton. 

John, the second son of the first settler, had three sons, viz : — John, 
Thomas, and Ebenczer. From John came John of Petersham, 
Jonas of Bolton, Josiah and Jonathan of Sterling, Aholiab and Beza- 
leel of Shutesbury, William of Bolton ; thomas had two sons, John 
of Ludlow, and Jotham. The latter four sons, Stephen and Titus, 
Jotham of Saltash, Vt. Reuben, do. From Stephen and Titus are 
descended the present Wilders in the " six nations."* From Eb- 
enezer. Representative in 1739, who died, Dec. 25, 1745, aged 
64, came Benjamin of Sterling, and David. From Benjamin, 
Col. Wilder, of Sterling. From David, who was a Representative 
many years, came David of Leominster, Samuel and John, Abel 
and Jacob of Vermont, Luke of Penobscot, and Jonathan. 
*£oulh part of Lancaster. 



88 APPENDIX. 

t'rotn David last named, is descended the present David ol'Leom- 
inster, commissioner orHigliwnvs, &c. Jonathan had eleven sons ; 
Dine lived to mnn's estate, viz : — Jonathan, David, John, Luke, 
Cephas, Piescott, Lewis, Henry, and Frederick. The lust died at 
Northampton, in Feb. 1826, universally lamented. 

A\xthaniel, the third son of the first settler, lived in Lancaster, and 
was killed by the Indians, July 1704. From him are descended 
Jonathan, killed by the Indians August, 1707, Nathaniel of Peters- 
ham, Ephraim of Lancaster, a Representaive for a number of years, 
who died Dec. 13, 1769, aged 94, and Col. Oliver. Nathaniel, last 
named, had a large family. Ephraim, had a son of the same name, 
who died March 17, 1770, aged 68. This last had three sons, 
Ephraim, Manassah, and William. Ephraim last named, settled in 
Sterling, had a large family, of whom Dea. Joel of this town is one. 
Manassah had two sons, Joseph and Sumner. William had two sons 
who left children, viz: Ephraim and Elijah. 

Col. Oliver had four sons, Oliver, Tilley, Phineas and Moses. 
Oliver and Moses remained in Lancaster, and from them are de- 
scended all of the name of Wilder, in the westerly part of Lancas- 
ter, except Joel and Elijah. 

NOTE ON SEVERAL OF THE NAME OF HOUGHTON. 

Ralph and John Houghton, as has been before mentioned, were 
cousins, and came to Lancaster in 1653. Ralph wrote a good busi- 
ness hand and was recorder many years. He represented the town 
as a deputy in the general court in 1673, and 1689. He probably 
died a few years after. Of his children, were John, born April 28, 
1655, and Joseph, born July 1, 1657. John, the cousin of Ralph, 
■whose wife was Beatrix, had a son Benjamin, born May 25, 1668. 
William and Robert were also sons. There is reason to believe 
that he died April 29, 1684. John Houghton, Esq. was another .son 
of John. He was born in England, it is said, in 1650, or 1651. 
He was quite young when his parents moved to Lancaster. From 
1693 to 1724, inclusive, he represented the town fourteen years 
in the General Court, For a long time after the town was rebuilt 
he appears to have been the only magistrate in the place. He was 
quite celebrated in this neighborhood, as a man of weight and in- 
fluence, and was a very skilful conveyancer. In this business he 
had great employment. He gave the land for the second meeting 
house. His dwelling house was on the south side of the old com. 
aion, a little to the south west of Mr. Faulkner's. Three ancient 
pear trees planted by hloiself stand in front of the site of his house. 



APPENDIX . 



89 



During the last twelve years of his life he was blind, lie died 
Feb. 3. 1736-7 in the 87th year of his age. 

The epitaph on his tomb stone, is the same that was common in 
the country a century ago. viz . 

As you are 

So were we 

As we are 

So yoii will be. 

Jonathan Houghton, the first County Treasurer, was one of his 
sons. 

ADDENDA. 

A few additional memoranda, the names of those who " desired to be made 
freemen,*" taken from 2 Savage's Winthrop, just published. Those in Italics, 
at least those of the same name, were among the early settlers of Lancaster. 



John Johnson, Oct. 19, 1630- 
VViUiam Phelps, Oct. 19, 16:50, 
John Moore, May 18, 1631. 
John Pierce, " " " 
Thomas James, Nov. 6, 1632.— This 
was I presume, the minister of Charles- 
town, one of the same name per- 
haps a son, was here, 1653. 
John White, March 4, 1632-3. 
John Smith, " " " 
Joshua Carter, May 14, 1634. 
Richard Fairbanks, " " 
John Hawkes, Sept. 13, 1634. 
George Phelps, May 6, 1635. 
John Whitney, March 3, 1635-6. 
Edward Bennett, May 25, 1636. 
Thomas Carter, March 9,' 1636-7. 
Thomas Rawlinson, May 2, 1638. — 1 
must think this to be the same as Ilow- 
landson, father of Rev. Joseph. 
Thomas Carter, May 2, 1638. — proba- 
bly the same as above, and aucester of 
the Carters in Lancaster. 



William Ballard, May 2, 1638. 
John Tower, Dec. 13, 1638. 
James Bennett, " " 
Henry Gains, Dec. 14, 1638. 
Edward Breck, May 22, 1639. 
Thomas Wilder, June 2, 1641. 
John Mansfield, May 10, 1643. 
John Thurston, " " " 
Nathaniel Norcross, May 10, 1643.— 
This is the gentleman who was enga- 
ged to accompany the first planters, 
and was a " University scholar." Mr. 
Savage thinks that he returned to 
England. 

William Fletcher, May 10, 1643. 
John Carter, May 29, 1644. 
Edward Wilder, "• " 
John Maynard, " " 

jYnthayiicl Hadlock, May G, 1646. 
Thomas Carter, jr. May 26, 1647. 
Samuel Carter, " " " 

John Smith, " " " 

John Pierce, May 10, 1618. 



Richard Dwelley probably did not return to town after it was resettled, 
if he ever lived here. I find him mentioned as a soldier ia Scituate, in 1676, 
2. Mass. Hist. Col. iv. 229. " Others of the same town, (Watertown) began 
also a plantation at Nashaway, some 15 miles north west of Sudbury." 2 
Savage's Winthrop, 152. 

1648. " This year a new way was found out to Connecticut, by Nash- 
away, which avoided much of the hilly way." 2. Winthrop's N. E. 325. 

Maze, Rigby, Kettle, and Luxford, names in Lancaster in 1G6S-9, disap- 
peared as early probably as Philip's war. 

Three acres of land in front of the house of Mr. Richard L Cleveland, 
were used as a training field, in the time of the first Judge Wilder. 

For the biography of the late Judge Sprague. I sm indebted to Williana 
Stedman, Esq. 



90 

ERRAT.l. 

PAGES. 

5 lint 17, for " fact," read part. 

6 loth line from bottom for " area and of its branches," read area of 

its branches. 

7 line 16 from top for " least," read last. 

16 3d line from the bottom of the text, for " effected," read affected- 

19 2d line from top, dele, and, in 2d note for "presented by the Court," 
read presented the Court. 

20 line 18 from bottom for "1654 and 1655," read 1664, 1665. 

22 line 12 from top for " .Jonathan Prescott," read John Prescott, for 

" Peter Green aged 91," read 81. 
37 17th line from top for " had," read lead. 
43 3d line from bottom for "Soombes," read Toomb's. 

53 last line of note (*) for " Jacob Z Wearers," read Jacob Zweares. 

54 8 and 9 lines from bottom read "Willard." 

55 3d line from top after " excitement" add prevailed, 19th line from 
top for " Jeremeel," read Jeremy. 

56 12 lines from top for "authography," read orthography,16th line from 
top for " indulged," read indulge. 

62 4th line from bottom for " or," read nor. 

69 in note for " 3 Ellis," read 2 Ellis. 

70 6th line from top for " broken off," read taken off. 

71 3d line from top dele, " cause." 

72 21st line from top for "June 3, 1792," read June 3, 1793, last note 
for "Joeph," read Joseph. 

The compiler living at a distance from the press, and not being able to 
revise the sheets, is the reason that some errata have crept into the work. 
Some typographical errors of less consequence, and those in the points, are 
not noticed. 















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